Rick was a great father and amazing husband. He found the love of his life early on and showed her his love every day for the next 40 years. Rick’s pride in his three children cannot be described in words. His wife and children were his world.
We are all proud of the man he was and that we were lucky to have him in our lives.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be scheduled at a later date once Linda has left the hospital.
He will be missed
I had your ashes in my suitcase in a double Baggie. I think the TSA thought you were a block of cocaine. My bag was search and your bag of ashes were open. I could just see you laughing and making jokes. I keep you in my heart every where I travel and I take you with me. Enjoy the ride..........
Uncle Rick lightened everyone's day whether it was a joke, smile, or big bear hug. He never took anything too seriously and showered his family with love. "Rose" is my middle name and my aunt and uncle's pet name for me. I really don't know how the nickname began, but it's stuck through the years and it continues to make me feel like a five year old all over again. Makes me think back to the loving moments I was lucky enough to be a part of.
Aunt Linda and Uncle Rick made you feel loved just being around them. Whether it was cleaning the pool with Aunt Lin in the summer, which always became a game, riding in the Hot Rod to car shows, or just being around for dinner, they made you feel loved and priveledged to spend time with them.
At camp he was up at the crack of dawn with a mug of coffee sitting at the table greeting us kids as we rolled from bed to be spoiled with another day of fun. He would sit in the middle of the river, claiming his domain of Fonger Rock! Every time I smell a cigar it takes me back to Christmas Eve parties at Aunt Linda and Uncle Rick's when the uncles would drink and smoke cigars in the basement while the kids crammed down all of the cookies my mom and Aunt Pat took hours slaving over.
My Uncle Rick was one of the greatest men I have been privileged to meet, let alone love. Words cannot express how lucky I feel to be born into such an amazing family who not only gets along, but genuinely loves each other's company; never a dull moment when our family is around... My childhood memories are of my family and the love I have been so blessed to recieve from them. I will cherish my thoughts of Uncle Rick for my entire life, words cannot express what an amazing, loving person he was.
Submitted with love from Diana & Barb:
One evening Diana, Kristy, Kelley, Lisa, Linda, Rick & myself were at the Fonger's. It was a beautiful summer evening. The girls were getting ready to leave for their cruise to the islands. We were talking about their upcoming vacation to the Bahama's . Diana was sharing stories & places they might want to visit while in Puerto Rico. As we were all chatting, Rick pipes in to everyone, "Now Girls, don't be bringing home any Puerto Rican boys!" Complete silence for a few seconds until Linda turns to Rick & says " Rick, you do know that Diana is Puerto Rican!" He said "No, she's Italian!" Diana turns to Rick & said "No, I'm Puerto Rican!". With that Rick turns a bright shade of red & apologize's to her. Tells her how sorry he was. With Diana's great sense of humor & comeback she says to him "That's okay, my mom said never to bring home any American boys!" With that we just all burst out laughing. It was a classic moment, PRICELESS!
