Obituaries

Rick was born in Oakland and raised in Mission San Jose. He was a lifelong resident of Fremont. Opening day for Rick was August 3, 1953. He crossed home plate on January 22, 2017, after a courageous thirty year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. He was preceded in death by his niece Sara (Dec. 2005), his mother Beverly (July 2014), and his father Robert (Jan. 2017).

Rick is survived by his devoted family/team; brother Bob (Leticia), wife/caretaker Marilyn, son Rick Jr. (Michele), and daughter Beth (Tom). He adored his four grandchildren; Madi, Maci, Ricky III, and Trentin. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Rick began his love of baseball early while playing catcher for the Fremont Little League. This lead to his love of the San Francisco Giants. Rick graduated from Mission San Jose High School in 1971, honorably served six years in the Army Reserves, and enjoyed an eighteen year career at Amchem Chemical in Niles. Before becoming too ill, Rick loved riding motorcycles, cruising in his '59 Corvette, swimming, fishing, building/flying model airplanes, bowling, and woodworking. He made several pieces of furniture over the years.

Thank you to the excellent emergency room and ICU doctors and nurses at Washington Hospital, the caring nursing staff at Windsor Park Care Center, and the wonderful team from Vitas Hospice. Thanks too to all of the family and friends who called and/or came to visit him at home the past few months, he treasured the time together.

Please join us for Rick's Closing Day ceremony on Thursday, January 26, 2017. No suits or fancy clothes required. Please wear your favorite baseball t-shirts. Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m., at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, Fremont, followed by Mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hayward. Please join Rick's family at a tailgate reception after the services at the Mother Teresa Center, behind St. James Parish at approximately 1:30 p.m.