From one Richard to another.From his sense of humor to his commitment to education to his very name (I’m a Richard too), Richard Miller and I were much alike. When I first met him, years ago at a science fair, we realized that “raunchy” was a language we shared, and jokes were the currency of getting to know each other. We shared a professional interest in Med Tech too. His formal and mine less so. We had some great laughs together both in person and via email (all erased, so don’t ask) and ate some interesting lunches together at Med Tech committee meetings. We were friends in the sense of working together and kidding around when possible and enjoying each other's company. We shared opinions of people and had laughs over that, too. We were not friends in the sense of hanging out after work or going fishing or anything like that, but had an easy relationship. He was “there” for me when I needed him, and I would like to think the same for me. Our friendship was the kind that pauses, and then months later continued as if there were no pause at all. I know he will be much missed by his family and friends, and professional colleagues as well.
It seems that our own days are in some ways measured by the dimming of lights when someone we know, or know of, or respect dies. So on this occasion, the lights dim just a little more.
This last bit is for Rich (as we sometimes addressed other):” From one Dick to another, I’m gonna miss you, man.”
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1 comment:
Well said. Rich would like that. I can hear him laughing at that last line. Sounds just like him!
Rich was the first lab instructor I met after I began teaching at OTC. We went to a southeast/southwest meeting of technical colleges on Jekyl Island. We were the only MLT instructors there, so we had our own meetings that weekend. I discovered that he was a different sort of fellow, with a great sense of humor and a big heart. We became fast friends. He became one of my "go to" people when I needed advice on what to do when I had a professional or personal dilemma. I would see him a couple of times a year at some meeting or another, but always stayed in contact by phone or email, even if it was nothing but one of his email jokes. When he became your friend, you were in like Flint...and would always be defended and upheld as righteous regardless of whether you agreed, disagreed or were indifferent to his opinions and ideas. He had a generous heart. He talked often of his family and how proud he was of his children. It was very obvious they meant a lot to him. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family. Yes, Woody, the world has lost another light and I have a pain in my heart tonight. I'm gonna miss my buddy.
Amber Tuten
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