By Chuck Richter
I just want to thank everyone for coming today. I know it means a lot to our family and dad. Seeing some faces I remember from when I was a kid visiting my dad up here in the summer, bring back so many good memories of dad.
It's painful to talk in the past tense about a person who knew me through and through, nurturing and supporting all my ideas and dreams throughout my entire life. I'm trying to focus on being grateful to have spent the last 3 years with Dad nearby with visits often, instead of being confounded by the thought of the rest of my life without him.
While Dad is no longer with us on earth and is missed greatly by all that have known him -- His spirit lives with us forever. His Legacy will endure for an eternity and the sweet memories will never be forgotten. Oh the memories, there are so many good memories!
Let’s talk about dad for a moment. Dad was one that loved to laugh. He had a silly sense of humor, one that both children and adults enjoyed. - A good friend and co-worker at Intel - Roger Nelson, told me of a story that my dad and him shared while they were on their way to their favorite Chinese restaurant in Aloha, one that they would often go to for lunch. During one of Roger's visits to Hillsboro they went to lunch. It had been raining hard all morning so the roads were very wet. Jerry drove his car. After a great meal we headed back to work. Back at the plant when we all got out of the car Jerry notices that the arm of his jacket had been closed in the car door and had literally been dragged for miles on the pavement and was filthy dirty and soaked. Jerry’s response: “Sure am glad my arm wasn’t in there”. -- Roger says that they split their guts laughing and it was hard to contain it heading back into work. Sometimes the levity isn't as potent unless you had been there to experience these things yourself. But that was Jerry!
(Story #2) When my dad suffered a stroke back in 2002 I flew up from California to stay with him for a week. During that time in which I slept by the side of his hospital bed in a reclining chair, we would watch the comedy channel at night. One night we watched some old SNL skits in the hospital room and were laughing so hard the nurse had to come in several times to tell us to quiet down. We thought it was hilarious that both of us were like kids being reprimanded by another adult.
More about dad - Dad let his emotions be shown no matter who was around. Whether it was screaming at a political figure on TV, a celebratory dance after a Seahawks TD or Mariners walk off win, Dad wouldn’t hold back. There was no pride in the way to hold back tears that would flow during a good love story or dramatic movie. Dad was a passionate man that wore his heart on his sleeves. A man that was bold in both spoken words and action. Dad had the wonderful ability to overlook faults and just see everyone for who they were. He had a unique way of seeing both sides of any situation or person. He was certainly his own person as well. He had such tremendous empathy for not just those close to him, but the world community. He was truly a "good person." He certainly left the world a better place and left behind many who loved him.
My Dad, my Teacher! I have learned so much from Dad. He would bring up current events or politics almost on a daily basis, especially the last 3 years. As soon as I joined in, he’d be off and running. Ideas, facts and historical precedents would cascade out of him with increasing momentum, usually turning into a discussion of American history, then world history, if not a heated debate. The best part would be when his eyes started to gleam, his voice rose in pitch, and his face would turn bright red. It was beyond my comprehension, how he could maintain such a thorough understanding of everything he read and heard. He would weave together all the threads of facts, politics, economics and sociology, then reach his own unique conclusions. Despite some differences of opinion, I’m going to miss this part of Dad the most.
Conclusion: I want to conclude with the Top 10 most memorable Jerryisms!
Again, the following list may not seem funny or interesting to those who didn't know my dad, but to us that did know Jerry you'll recognize these and smile.
#10. Whenever Dad called you on the phone there was always a pause, followed by a Hel-LO or it’s ME your dad.
#9. Dancing in the North Bend home’s garage to Disco music when I was 18 with dad. Dad loved music with any kind of a beat. Dad would go all out when he was dancing and wouldn't care what others thought. As you'll see in the slideshow video with my dad dancing with youngest daughter Trinity when she was in her crib, dad loves to boogie!
#8. Should, Could, Would. Whenever I would respond in a conversation with an “I could” dad would respond with, “You Should” followed by me saying “I would” and him saying “You won’t”. Sometimes It would go on for a while and we’d crack up each and every time.
#7. When vacationing in Sierra City, NV with Dad and Marsha, Dad wanted a peach cobbler pie, so we set out in this small town to find the cobbler my dad was looking for. Our last hope was a gas station and when the gas station attendant came out to pump our gas, my dad asked “pardon me, do you have a peach cobbler pie?". The look on the gas station attendant was priceless. Dad and I laughed along with the rest of the family the entire night.
#6. “What a weenie” - the term dad used when he was mildly displeased with those he likes. Roger tells this story: Jerry would occasionally call my home if he had a brainstorm to discuss or was itching to get me to test something for him. One morning the phone rang, it was Jerry. My young daughter answered the phone. Jerry asks for me and she relays to him that I wasn’t home at the moment. Jerry’s response which has stuck into the hearts of my children as hilarious was “That Wiener”. I honestly don’t know how many times over the course of these many years one of my kids, mainly my daughter though has mentioned that phone call. We still get tickled.
#5. Finding Dad in the kitchen late at night either preparing or eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a tall glass of cold milk. Sometimes he'd look at each after a late movie and say "You thinking what I'm thinking?". I knew it was PB&J time!
#4. Dad wouldn’t just say no the way most of us do. It was always the shaking of the head, mouth wide open and with a concerned look in his eyes he would say loudly NO.
#3. O my back hurts, can you walk on my back? Dad loved for us to walk on his back when we were little. It was fun when we all piled on and listened to him belly ache.
#2. Dad’s bear hugs. When you were hugged by Dad you truly felt it. That and the way his mustache and facial scruff scratched your face when he kissed you!
#1. To Dad, everything was “the best“ in his eyes. Whether it was a breakfast at a fine eatery in Portland, a home cooked meal by his wife Marsha or some new electronic gadget… (Pause), each time it was always the best.
To quote Dad most recently on Thanksgiving - “That was the best pie I’ve ever had”.
I believe to Dad he looked at what was best in all us. He overlooked our faults, differences and forgave us if we’ve wronged him. See, I believe each and every one of us that is here today or those that dad knew - was in some respects, THE BEST PERSON HE EVER KNEW.
Thank you Dad for being the BEST father that a son could ask for.
