Eric Grandstaff
My condolences to Susan and Randy. I just now (April 2016) learned of Rick's passing.
My memories of Rick are numerous. In our old McKinley, Union, and Sherman Street neighborhood, there was this very friendly and funny guy--Rick--who just,and most naturally, fit it with everyone; even the tough guys liked Rick. He had a humor that diffused tense situations.
Later on, when we moved on to WK Kellogg Junor High, I would say that Rick and I became best friends for two-three years. The winter of 1966-67 brought us an extremely warm January day, followed by a huge 24 hour snowfall (I remember the snow being up to our hips--well, maybe not). School was called off. Rick and I built several snow tunnels in his backyard. We had a blast. His mom called us in for hot cocoa. We were soaked.
I mentioned Rick was funny, but that doesn't do him justice; he could be outrageously funny in a stand-up jag that left you laughing until your sides ached. Often he and I did a frick-and-frack class clown act, that once or twice, ended us up in the dreaded Principal Potts office. After enduring severe and hard whacks on our derrières, we'd head back to class rubbing our backsides, but not before Rick turned to Potts' closed door (in front of his receptionist) and gave a "Sieg Heil, Meine Fueher Potts", and gave the raspberry defiantly.
We moved on to high school at BCCHS. As sometimes happens, different class schedules and school activities cause the best of friends to lose touch. In our junior year, Rick, and another friend of mine, John Hanson, left Battle Creek to join the Army. I remember seeing Rick's mom one day. She invited me in and shared some pictures of Rick and John where they were deployed. She gave me his APO address and I wrote him.
Years later, when I was in grad school, our mutual friend, John Seltenreich, said our group of friends from WK Kellogg were getting together. At the party where we shot pool and reminisced, were Nick Harbert, Rick, John Hanson, Bill(y) Perlman, John Seltenreich, and John Baad. This would be the last time we were all together, and the last time I ever saw Rick in person.
At a 40th high school reunion, my friend, Lynn McGrew, told me that Rick had retired and was living in Muskegon, sailing, storm chasing, and enjoying a good life. I reached out to him on Facebook, and we would chat. I tried to visit him on one or more of my visits to the Muskegon area, but he always had something going on. We should all be as active as Rick seemed to be. He had many friends who adored him, and the dock and marina life of sailing suited him well.
Bless you, Ricardo, on your journey after this earthly life, my friend...
