Thomas Butcher
We all lost a great man recently. Some of us lost a great personal friend; I feel as if I lost a brother. I worked for Richard in the exceptional education area at various schools and became very close friends with Rich and his soulmate, Emily. We were like family, traveling together, camping and enjoying the outdoors and craft fairs. I always admired his tough, outer demeanor, his constant, positive spirit.
No doubt a lesser man could have withdrawn into a justifiable slump of self-pity, but not my brother, Richard. When it came to the welfare of others, including his family or his students, he was a lion. He was so proud of his son, Warren, as well as all the rest of his family.
Richard was a man of unquestionable integrity, strength, and tenacity, as well as warrior for the rights of the population he so strongly advocated for over many years. It has been wisely said that "consistency, thou art a jewel," and Rich never wavered from his ever-present commitment to the countless exceptional students whose rights he fought for.
In my short 73 years, I have been fortunate to work with individuals of impeccable character, bravery, and intellect, both with the FBI and US military. Richard daily outshone them and did so with a smile.
Likely the most valuable take away from all of the funerals I have attended is as follows: "There is a vacuum with the passing of this giant that cannot be filled by someone with less passion, commitment, and love for others. It is therefore up to each of us to make up that void.
Find us a comfortable spot by the campfire, brother, where our eternity of peaceful adventures awaits. Walk, hike and dance with Emily, all unencumbered, until we meet again.