rwsaunders
09-14-2009, 07:19 PM
Rich was a good friend and cycling pal of over 20 years. Rich was the one that got me back on the bike in the late 80's and we have been good friends ever since, both on and off the bike. He is presumed drowned, while on vacation off the coast of North Carolina this past weekend and his body hasn't been recovered. I received the heart wrenching call from his wife today.
He was 60 years old, with a wonderful and supportive wife, two great kids and he was a newbie grandfather. As you can tell by the one jersey, a Penn State nut as well. He served a tour in Vietnam as an Army Ranger, enjoyed hiking, backpacking, cycling, gardening, eclectic music and his '97 red Z3. Above, he was truly as solid an individual as one could be. Our year round Sunday rides and MS weekends were as special as it gets. He was both a motivator and a philosopher on our rides.
I am not over the shock and neither is our group of cyclists, who Rich organized and kept together. We lovingly referred to him as Sgt. Snead for the pace that he kept and the routes that he planned. Never a dull moment, and coffee at the end, perhaps mid-ride on the 50 milers, only if we behaved ourselves. In his role as a contrarian, he drank tea.
The last photo was taken a few weeks ago on our favorite ride. He was complaining (in jest) that I was going to wreck or cause him to wreck, while I was taking the pictures. He is in the yellow jersey, about 300 yards at the head of the pack, leading the way of course. In retrospect, I had never taken photos on this particular ride route, and we've been doing it for at least 12 years. Makes you wonder.
Sorry to write this long, but I wanted to get something out on the web in his honor. Say a prayer for his wife and family that he is found, so that they can have closure.
RW
He was 60 years old, with a wonderful and supportive wife, two great kids and he was a newbie grandfather. As you can tell by the one jersey, a Penn State nut as well. He served a tour in Vietnam as an Army Ranger, enjoyed hiking, backpacking, cycling, gardening, eclectic music and his '97 red Z3. Above, he was truly as solid an individual as one could be. Our year round Sunday rides and MS weekends were as special as it gets. He was both a motivator and a philosopher on our rides.
I am not over the shock and neither is our group of cyclists, who Rich organized and kept together. We lovingly referred to him as Sgt. Snead for the pace that he kept and the routes that he planned. Never a dull moment, and coffee at the end, perhaps mid-ride on the 50 milers, only if we behaved ourselves. In his role as a contrarian, he drank tea.
The last photo was taken a few weeks ago on our favorite ride. He was complaining (in jest) that I was going to wreck or cause him to wreck, while I was taking the pictures. He is in the yellow jersey, about 300 yards at the head of the pack, leading the way of course. In retrospect, I had never taken photos on this particular ride route, and we've been doing it for at least 12 years. Makes you wonder.
Sorry to write this long, but I wanted to get something out on the web in his honor. Say a prayer for his wife and family that he is found, so that they can have closure.
RW