Bob Riker

 

This one is going to be hard.

 

Bob Riker is one cool dude.  He very suddenly passed away. I am still trying to get my hands around it.

Bob was a collector of things.  Baseball memorabilia was one of his big things.  He has 2 Babe Ruth signed baseballs.  He has everything Derrick Geter, Thurmond Munson.  Are you seeing the pattern.  He was a huge Yankee fan.  For many years.  The first time I saw his collection I was blown away by one piece.  He has a shadow box with every no hitter pitched signed by the pitcher!!  Even the Don Larson no hitter in the 1958 World Series where he faced the minimum batters at 27.

However, Bob was a great guy.  Generous to a fault.  Kind to all.  Loving to his wonderful Jo Ann. And a great friend. He loved to cook.  He made the best Manhattans you will ever drink.  He loved smooth Jazz and a good time.  He loved to watch Jo Ann gamble, slots, he loved games of chance as well.  We went to a casino with them once.  All the staff doted over him and Jo Ann from the minute we arrived until we left.  It was so cool to watch.  We when to dinner and Jo Ann was flirting with our young waiter and I watched Bob just reveled in that.  Jo Ann and I would often kid Bob and my wife about not including us in their conversations.  It was our special time to harass them. Which sometimes they didn’t!  I am going to miss that as well.

My wife and I would go to their house for dinner often.  We so enjoyed Bob and Jo Ann. I have tried to leave their home many times when I had to look for my car in their driveway.

Fun Times….

I sure am going to miss my friend. I got a text from him 2 days before he passed with a crazy picture of him making fun of himself.  I am keeping that picture forever.  It will remind me of how much fun he was and how comfortable I was around him.

You know the Blessed Man is not liking writing about the loss of such great people.  I can remember my Granny telling me one time that the worst curse in the world is to out live all of your friends and family which in a way she did.  She buried all her children but one.  Her husband all her siblings and family.  I remembered that conversation when I got the news about Bob.  He doesn’t have to worry about that now.  And it is our job to make sure we all remember him in the light that he lived.  Kind, Loving, Caring, and Genuine.  Things we should all be striving to be every day. 

Bob Riker, God’s Speed my friend. You will be missed and always remembered.

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man