Richie

Richie – The Free Spirit

Richie came into our lives on St. Patrick’s Day in 2003, a day already filled with the promise of luck and celebration. But with Richie, it felt like he brought his own brand of energy and enthusiasm right from the start. He hit the ground running, becoming the most energetic of our boys and earning the title of the family daredevil. Whatever Robert or Alex did, Richie would be right there, imitating them and often adding his own daring twist. He was fearless, and nowhere was this more evident than in his love for the water.

While Robert and Alex needed some coaxing to get into the pool at first, Richie decided to take matters into his own hands—literally. One day, when my back was turned, Richie jumped into the pool without any hesitation, effectively teaching himself how to swim. My heart nearly stopped, but true to form, Richie emerged from the water with a big grin on his face, ready for more. His love for swimming never waned, and it eventually led him to be the only one of the boys to pursue water sports in high school, where he joined the water polo team. Watching him in the pool, whether at practice or in a game, was like watching someone completely in their element—full of life, joy, and a bit of mischief.

Richie brought a unique sense of humor to our family, one that was infectious and light-hearted. He had a knack for making us all laugh, whether through his stunts, his quick wit, or the playful expressions that often lit up his face. He was a joy to be around, always ready to brighten the mood with a joke or a funny story. But Richie wasn’t just about laughter; he had a depth to him that became more apparent as he grew.

From a young age, Richie showed an interest in technology. He loved spending time on the laptop, chatting with friends and gaming, and this interest naturally expanded into creativity in art and filmmaking. I’ll never forget when, at just six years old, Richie started making home videos and editing them on my Mac laptop. Some of these videos had elaborate plots, while others were pure physical comedy—each one a testament to his creativity and imagination.

Richie’s sense of humor, which he inherited from me and his grandfather, was a big part of who he was. But he also had a sensitivity and understanding of the world that was beyond his years. He trusted people deeply, which made it all the harder when that trust was broken. I vividly remember one morning, driving him to high school, when he asked me a question that cut straight to my heart. He wanted to know, “Why do some people really like you when you’re alone with them, but then they ignore you when other people are around?” 

That question floored me. Here was my son, grappling with his first experience of betrayal by a friend, and there was nothing I could do to shield him from the hurt. I took a moment to think about my answer and explained that in high school, there’s a lot of pressure to fit in, and sometimes people make choices based on who they think will make them popular, rather than on genuine friendship. I told him that those people weren’t true friends, and while it pained me to see him hurt, I knew this was a lesson he had to learn. After I dropped him off, I sat in the car for a long time, feeling the weight of his question and the helplessness of a parent who can’t protect their child from every pain.

But Richie, with his resilience, learned from that experience. He figured out who his real friends were and chose to surround himself with people who valued him for who he was. By the time he finished high school, he had a solid group of friends and had maintained an excellent GPA, giving him plenty of options for college. 

Richie, however, wasn’t eager to jump straight into another four years of studying. Instead, he came to me one day and told me he wanted to become a firefighter. He had taken good care of his body in high school, staying strong and fit, and I knew he could handle the physical demands of the job. But I also knew how important it was to keep doors open, so I asked him to consider going to college first, even if it wasn’t what he wanted right now. I explained that it’s much harder to go back to school once you start working full-time. Richie took my advice to heart and after thinking it over, he decided to enroll at UC Riverside.

Richie’s journey is still unfolding, but I know that whatever path he chooses, he will approach it with the same energy, humor, and depth of feeling that have always defined him. He has already brought so much joy and light into our lives, and I’m excited to see where his passions and talents will take him next.