Tomorrow and the next day, so many of us will get together and be together to celebrate a life as large and good and fun - and funny - as was Rick's, so unbelievably sadly and randomly cut short. Having known this dear dear man since the tender (impressionable!?!) age of eighteen, our respective lives crossing and intersecting forever thus throughout the ensuing 37 years, and having known his family, Jane, Jim, their kids, Ma and Pa, and particularly his dearest 'brother-cousin' Kip, his too sudden loss shakes to the core. So many of us touched by the enormity of his life and ends of the spectrum accomplishments - from phi beta kappa grad at Hamburger U. all the way to the Statehouse of Vermont, a state he loved so much and the people in it, even those outside of whom he represented, it will remain forever a huge loss in (my) our lives. Such that rare individual with that unique blend of puckish humor, quick (snide?) wit, and oh that fabulous cackle-chuckle!! His hallmark was loyalty and honor - to family, to friends, to causes, to the 'right stuff'...because he simply had so much of it within. I shall miss that last run down the mountain we had together too long ago - and the one we promised each other when he was back from China and my knee surgery heeled - his surgery as well. An incredible athlete and competitor I know I enjoyed and will miss, as will so many others - the gold, the tennis, the sailing, the skiing..all still waiting to be reprised, sadly now only in our memories. And for me a great teacher as well...who else but Rick could teach a neophyte how to master a stick shift in a once rare BMW (that little shoebox bullet 2002 once so unique we all flashed our brights at fellow strangers on the highway...and amongst each of our friends driving his own color version of same back in our hippy dippy days flying like swanks in Farmington and Simbury) And who but Rick could make a like-long Yankee fan out of a goil, even teaching her how to score the game...and to be there together at THE GAME(s) in dynasty history!! Such sweet memories bring all the more sorrow today that our guy is no longer a reassuring call away to phone glued to his ear in his office-mobile. That he's not just out of range momentarily but a call that can never be made again, just to hear that unique voice, that chuckle, that one-liner, that eminently good sense advice and discourse. The loss of such a great friend, such a soul mate of sorts brings with it an anguish of loss as large in life as he was. I shall forever miss you and love you dear one, and God bless you, Ricky.

I am extremely shocked and saddened to read this news about Rick. During House and Senate hearings on both Act 60 and Health Care Reform in VT, Rick encouraged me to express my viewpoints directly to the policy makers in the Legislature. We agreed on many of these issues, attempting to look at the practical implications and consequences of these legislative decisions. Rick always provided the transportation from Winhall to Montpelier for these sessions during which we had plenty of time to discuss all the various issues for the area. Despite no longer living in West Dover, Rick and I have remained in touch. I will miss hearing from him with regular updates from Montpeculia.