Happy Birthday, Richard.

Today is my uncle Richard’s birthday. But he won’t get to celebrate it. Last night, he passed away after a year and half long battle with cancer.

Richard is my mother’s middle brother. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, his children, Corri and Spencer, his son-in-law, Michael, grandchildren, Aiden and Laura, his siblings, Larry and Caren, his siblings-in-law, Jeanne and David, his nieces and nephews, Lauren, Bryon, Eric and Allison, his nephew-in-law, Gabe, and most importantly, his mother, Lois. He is also survived by his wife Nancy’s family.

I didn’t know Richard very well. He lived in California with his family, while I grew up in Oregon. But I saw him during family reunions and when he and Nancy would come to drop off or pick up my cousins Spencer and Corri when we visited our grandmother. He was a nice man who worked hard and loved his family. I remember he liked to laugh.

Instead of dwelling on his passing, I wanted to write a short memorial and wish him one more happy birthday.

If you’d like to make a donation in my uncle’s name to the American Cancer Society, please do so here.

Thanks.