In 1976, the late Mrs. Evelyn Chartier was a strict, outspoken, 'old time religion" preacher who ran a Bible camp at Turtle Lake, Saskatchewan with her husband Bud. Modestly was the rule and no bikinis were allowed! She made girls wear T-shirts over their swim suits. And the boys and girls were not allowed to go swimming at the same time. 

"The day that Ritch Espino arrived at Turtle Lake Camp" still makes me laugh out loud.  It was 36 years ago, Ritch (who was a youth pastor at the time) was totally ripped and muscled up from weight lifting.  He was in amazing shape, and built like a Greek god.

When old Mrs. Chartier saw his body she gasped!  I thought she was going to have a heart attack!  She was so overwhelmed that she implemented a new rule, declaring that the Lord wanted Ritch to wear a T-shirt while swimming!  Of course the rule did not effect the rest of us guys at camp - just Ritch! LOL!!

Of course Ritch was always a great sport.  He took it in stride, and he arranged for "1920"s style bathing suits for him, and the band (Bobby, Randy and Tuppy?).  The kind with tops and bottoms that covered you up from neck to knee.

I miss him.

Wow, I was so shocked to hear that Richard went to be with the Lord!  I have loved his music for many years.  Periodically his name will get brought up and always the song Little Flowers follows after his name.  I got to know Richard along with a whole youth choir whom he and Randy and Bob travelled with for one summer, or at least part with Bob and Randy, in Canada.  I had the pleasure of also knowing them before then at Camp Crestview in Troutdale. Foursquare summer camp.  Richard always made us laugh. He was a great teacher and of course singer.  I cannot wait to get to heaven and finally get to sing a duet with him in the Heavenly Choir.  Cuz I GARUANTEE he is in that choir! Richard.....Look down and sing Little Flowers for us once in a while.  Oh and say Hi to Harvey Oxner, who is no doubt leading the choir!  Love in Him, Jeanette Drews%uFEFF

Tio, my heart still aches for you!  However, because I believe in the God that saved you (me) through His son, Jesus Christ, I am comforted by this truth:

"For... neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38,39

Until I see you again , Tio, I'll always miss you, never forget you, and forever love you!  Renay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save A Place For Me by Matthew West

Don't be mad if I cry
It just hurts so bad, sometimes
'Cause everyday it's sinking in
And I have to say goodbye all over again

You know I bet it feels good to have the weight of this world off your shoulders now
I'm dreaming of the day when I'm finally there with you

(Chorus)
Save a place for me
Save a place for me
I'll be there soon
I'll be there soon
Save a place for me
Save some grace for me
I'll be there soon
I'll be there soon

I have asked the questions why
But I guess the answers for another time
So instead I pray, with every tear
And be thankful for the time I had you here
 

(Chorus)
I wanna live my life Just like you did
Make the most of my time Just like you did
And I want to make my home up in the sky Just like you did
Oh, but until I get there...
Until I get there...
 

(Chorus)

To see the video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUjL6bVD2vw

If we could have a lifetime wish,

a dream that would come true,

we'd pray to God with all our hearts

for yesterday and you.

A thousand words can't bring you back,

we know because we've tried.

Neither will a thousand tears,

we know because we've cried

You left behind our broken hearts

and happy memories, too

But we never wanted memories,

we only wanted you

Ritch was not just my friend, but he was my "car friend".  He called when he first saw the '58 Chevy for sale down the road from my house and we had to go look at it together and we agreed it was a great car.  He bought it (much to my wife Naomi's jealousy....she'd been eyeing the '58 up for awhile!) and took it home and put some bad ass moons and white walls on it!  But still not satisfied he thought it still needed to perfect.......I got ahold of my retired auto body friend, Bill and told him about the '58.  Bill thought be like all the other '58s he'd seen, rusted out from the bottom up.....when Ritch and I got to Bill's he was blown away and said there was no way the car was from Oregon.  Best '58 he'd ever seen in his lifetime!  And Ritch said it was California........Bill said 4 hours body work, and just paint, done deal.  Bill just wanted to shake on the deal (he's old school -- just like Ritch) but said, you know how it is now days.......I gotta write you a receipt!    What a great time I got to spend with him on a dream car of his.  I really treasure the time  that he and I had with each other planning what to do with the car.  He was one of a kind......special.......and I knew the first time I met him........thank you Ritch......

Any one that knew Ritch could not help but to be blessed by his pressence His impact on so many lives wil live for ever.During the 90's WE worked with troubled kids like, Rigo, Armando,David,Jared and on and on. I don't think I can ever fully comprehend how many lives that were truely touched by this Man  including my own We met for coffee weekly ,every thing  going on in our lives was brought to that table, those meetings were a gift . He fixed my back  We fixed his truck . I moved to central Oregon in 99 We grew apart   as many of us do when ever i returned to portland  to work, Ritch and his family gave me shelter and food  never asking for anything in return that's how Ritch was always giving of himself . I like countless others recieved so much by just knowing Ritch. If you knew him no explanation is needed,You know exactly what I am trying to say, if you did,nt know him, first of all you missed out and  I must apologise because no words can describe who Ritch is and what he meant to me He is missed and will never be replaced

Mike S

There is a few things on our bike trips that I will never forget: leaving the lake house in the early morning in Washington,The ferry ride in Canada,the smile on your face on the scorching helmetless 500 mile ride in Idaho that ended with a frosty mug of beer that made it all worthwhile, It was on those rides that you and I were always at our best..Laughing and smiling as the miles and the days slipped by. I will have a picture of you and I on our last ride that will be in my wallet so you will be riding with me as long as I ride.. You will always be missed..  Gail

Thanks for making me laugh all those times I saw you.

I remember being scared of you when I first met you, but later on I figured that you were just a person that I would learn to love and honor. You will remain in my heart forever.

P.S. I never called you weird:) And thanks for taking me to the dance I never thought that would be one of the last times I would see you.

I WILL MISS YOU, My Best Friend Forever.

Daddy, yesterday I couldn't make it thru school and when I got home I told mom I was starting to forget your voice so she pulled down a bunch of tapes from when you sang her karaoke that she had recorded.  Mom and I sat in my room listening to After the lovin, la bamba, the wonder of you, the wanderer and many other songs.  We cried and cried.  I am so thankful I have those tapes and your voice mom said was like an angel and I think so too.  I miss your funny laugh, and talking about all of our old cars, I will miss going to the doo wop shows with you, the car shows and so much more.  Me, Nico and mom hug and cry everyday and we all talk about how lucky we were to not only know you but live with you and love you everyday for so many years.  I promise to watch over Nico, Ritchie and mom and not let anything happen to them.  We all know in our hearts that you loved us with ALL of your heart and we will know that forever!

I miss you so much, your favorite son :)   Joey

I will never forget the first A&P review that I went to... I thought it was going to be boring and a waste of my time. It was anything but that. Rich was full of laughs and jokes to tell us to make  it seem interesting, he also helped us tremendously. I remember any question he knew was going to be hard on the test he would blame on Barry. But the thing I will never forget was during the review when Rich said "I love Barry, the only difference between us is I eat my rice friend and he eats his white and steamed" it was this sort of humor that made Rich so loveable. He was an all around great person whom everyone will miss!