Posted 11:34 AM by Bonnie

End of a legacy: March is ending and April will be with us tomorrow, so I am writing one last tribute to my friend and will say a final goodbye to him. Rick could be the sweetest man around and could also be a jerk and an asshole. Everyone who knew him would be smiling as they read that because they know it's true. But he did leave a lasting impact on people. Anyone from our hometown, in Erie, PA, will remember his old rock band The Electric Zoo. They played in many places in NY, PA and OH. As I stated in a previous post we dreamed of and finally started a music company and had a blast. We recorded a CD of some of the songs he had written over the years.

Over the years, when we weren't living in the same place or with each other, we played games online, so if nothing else we had a contact there. Rick once said it was a way of making sure he'd hear from me. He made a lot of friends in the game rooms. Rick gave me the password to his game room because he wanted all his friends there to know, if and when something happened. I have received so many wonderful responses I am going to post them here and then say a final farewell.

This from a recent email from Lyda, one of the singers for our CD....

Bonnie,
I’m glad I could provide a laugh for you. I know its not easy for you these days. I read through your blog and I saw how many people posts you posted about Rick. I’m sure that only just a few of them. It doesn’t surprise me how many people’s lives he touched. He had that special personality that affected everyone he came in contact with. I loved your line about him being the sweetest and yet the biggest pain in the ass. I could relate to that. I had been in touch with Rick recently too and it was nice to be in contact with him just before he passed away. Even though my relationship with Rick is nowhere near your’s was, I feel his presence. I’m glad that Beth and I could help in making both your dreams come true with creating your music business and making the cd. I refer to those days quite a bit and believe it or not, you both made one of my dreams come true also by recording a cd.
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gg Rick...im gonna miss u my friend RebelRider
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Is Spoker2000, Rick? Please tell me that is not what you are saying? Spoker is such a wonderful guy, he was the first person to ever try to teach me chess. I'm feeling a great sense of loss here. I'M so sorry to hear that you have lost a dear friend of over 40 years, i know how hard that must be for you, it's hard for me and we have only played here for a couple of years together, with moderate chatting, but i feel he was a friend. Could you tell me what happened to him?
He will be truly missed. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know about him passing. I think the world was a better place with him here with us, even though we were only internet gaming partners. Please give his wife and his family my deepest regards and let them know that i will say a prayer that GOD might ease their hurt and bring them nothing but joy in thinking about thier memories of better times together.

Thank you,
Mufasa (VIVIAN)
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Hi I am June and I played Rick for several years, in fact he is the one that taught me the game we were playing. What happen to him? How is his wife doing, I know he often talked about her, he was a sweet man and I will miss him.

June
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OMG!......Im so sorry! I had no idea he was sick or anything, we just met here playing a game...Very personable.......Oh my name is Aimee........anywho, again, im sorry!
If theres anything, anything I can do PLEASE let me know.......
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Sorry to hear of your friend's passing. Thank you for letting me know.
I assume this was very unexpected. Judy
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Hi Bonnie, I'm so sorry to hear that! :(
Thank you so much for letting me know, and PLEASE give my condolences to Naomi! He was such a sweet person and we had become friends over the last few years. I knew he hadn't been feeling well lately, but he didn't really seem to want to talk about it, so we didn't. At least now he's free of the pain and suffering and WE have another Angel among us! He will be missed!
Thank you again. Carolyn
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Thank you for letting me know. I am so sorry. He was a good friend in Its Your Turn. I will surely miss him.
Lynn
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thank you for letting me know about him and he must been stubborn not letting you and naomi know about his health - Naomi Kay
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Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this. I knew he had health issues but I had no idea. Please extend my condolances to his family. I really enjoyed playing Backgammon with him.
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Thank you so much for letting me know. I really appreciate that.

Sincerely Kim
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I am so sadden to hear about Rick, we played for a few years and outside of knowing he lived close by my house and that he loved music I can not say we were close. If you know his wife Nomi let her know how sad I am about the news. Right now I am on the road but he will be in my prayers. Mark
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Dear Bonnie,
Thank you for letting me know about Rick.
I didn't get to chat to him much during games so I didn't know him well. I hope his passing was peaceful and that he was not in any discomfort.

Please pass my condolences on to his family.

Best Regards,
Rob.
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My condolences to all the family of Rick. We have played for several years and I always enjoyed his games and the comments he often made with the moves. Im sure this is a busy time for you but yes when things settle down I would like more details if it isnt too much trouble
Jack Metcalf
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oh my, I am sorry to hear about that... i was not aware that he was ill or having problems. This is the first time I have been online in a few days, so i just now got your message. Thank you for telling me...
Amy
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Some of the players resigned the game giving Rick a final win.

Your opponent has resigned with the following message:

take care, my friend
:( (Carolyn)
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Your opponent has resigned with the following message:

In memory of Rick; one last win, good buddy!
Love ya. You will be missed!
Lynn
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Your opponent has resigned with the following message:

sorry to hear
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Your opponent has resigned with the following message:

I just can't do it. I will finish games with Rick. when we meet again, and we'll play on a cloud. I am just sick over this. love Patty
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Your opponent has resigned with the following message:

I won the last one, which was my first chess win ever as i have only played 2 games and they were both with you, so i figure it was your turn to win this one.
GOOD GAME SPOKER.
I miss you terribly and i find that really strange considering we were just 2 internet gamers:) But, i know my life is better having crossed your path, because you were living proof of one never to give up and you would not let me quit on learning that chess game...lol.
Mufasa (VIVIAN)
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Your opponent has resigned with the following message:

Here's to you my friend, you finally beat me at pente:)

YOU will be missed and it will be strange not seeing your name on my game status page here at IYT, I don't think that has happened since the day we started playing.

GG AND REST WELL MY FRIEND!!!
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Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and feelings towards Rick. Whatever anyone thought of him he was a very special person. I admired him for not letting what some would call a handicap keep him from living. He enjoyed his life, his music, his women :-), and yes Rick had many. And as I post these responses I am smiling and chuckling a bit seeing how, even online, he surround himself with women.
And now I guess for you and me, Rick, this is truly the End of Line.

One final note: Rick loved Meatloaf and introduced me to his songs and music. One of his favorite songs, that reminded him of us as young teens roaming the streets of Erie, PA and hanging out on the street corners was Lost Boys and Golden Girls, so one last time Rick...this is for you.

Meat Loaf — “Lost Boys & Golden Girls”

Lost boys and golden girls
Down on the corner, and all around the world
Lost boys and golden girls
Down on the corner and all around, all around the world
It doesn’t matter where they’re going
Or wherever they’ve been
’cause they’ve got one thing in common, it’s true
They’ll never let a night like tonight go to waste
And let me tell ya’ something, neither will you
Neither will you
Neither will you

We’ve gotta’ fast, we were born out of time
Born out of time and alone
And we’ll never be as young as we are right now
Runnin’ away and runnin’ for home
Runnin’ for home

It doesn’t matter where they’re going
Or wherever they’ve been
’cause they’ve got one thing in common, it’s true
They’ll never let a night like tonight go to waste
And let me tell ya’ something, neither will you
Neither will you
Neither will you
Neither will you

Lost boys and golden girls
Down on the corner, and all around the world
Lost boys and golden girls
Down on the corner and all around, and all around the world

If anyone from IYT comes to visit here please feel free to leave a comment about Rick and pass on the url to others who might want to visit here. I know he'd enjoy it.

(Please scroll down through my blog for other missives and a picture of Rick aka Spoker.)