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Rick Mera, formerly of Denver, passed away suddenly at his home in Monteverde, Costa Rica on April 30, 2014. He was 67. Rick was known by his many friends as the sweet, generous guy with the million-watt smile and easy, big laugh, can-do energy and two-octave hands. Rick put his attributes to good use as a successful businessman, lover of music, good food and the outdoors, and a friend ready to pitch in and help anyone, anytime.
Rick’s special talent was making and keeping strong friendships with people like his “sandbox buddy” John Bergstrom of Rockford, college buddies, friends he met in the 1970s Denver Christian Community, friends of friends of friends he met socially and through his business Boltswagon/ Bolts Quality Car Care, Denver Insight Meditation Community friends, including the “Jets” walking group, and friends he made in Monteverde. Rick kept in touch with scores of people whom he met across the span of his life, remembering birthdays, anniversaries and special moments with a constant flow of cards, emails and Skype or phone calls that always began with his hearty, “Hey-y-y, whadda ya say?”
Rick Mera married Jannelle Wilkins, also formerly of Denver, on August 9, 2009 in Monteverde and again in Denver on September 13, 2009. They lived at the edge of the tropical cloud forest where they gardened, landscaped, made bread and cheese, and entertained waves of friends when they weren’t traveling the world. Rick was especially pleased by the Buddhist sitting group he led early on, and in his participation in raising the new timber frame building for Monteverde Friends School and Meeting. At home he loved birding, reading, cooking and hiking.
In Denver Rick attended Mile Hi Church and was active in the Insight Meditation Buddhist community. With his friends he enjoyed a daily walking group, cycling, fishing, camping and hiking in the mountains.
Rick owned and operated Boltswagon of Denver, renamed Bolts Quality Car Care, until his retirement. Bolts began as a Volkswagon repair co-op founded by Rick and a friend, which he developed into a popular and successful business at 7th & Santa Fe and later at 11th & Delaware. Mera ran this business for almost 30 years, until he sold it to Station Auto, now Auto Union.
Rick graduated from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in 1969, where he was a member of Phi Chi Epsilon fraternity, and from East High School in Rockford, Illinois, in 1964. He moved to Denver in 1972 as a sales trainer for an insurance company but dropped out as he grew disillusioned with corporate life.
Rick is survived by his wife, Jannelle Wilkins; brother, Chris Mera (Ellen Stannish); nephew Marc Mera, stepdaughter Natalia Wilkins-Tyler, nieces Kerry Stannish Essex and Corey Stannish and Sarah Scholfield, and cousins in California and Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alphonso and Marian (nee Fiorentino) and brother Joseph.
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