Stories about Rick
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From Brecken Klein
Dad would tell his youngest students after their first lesson, “Congratulations, you are now a piano player!” He liked that this seemed to bring delight and confidence to his smallest students. Everyone knew Dad as a teacher and musician, but I know he will also be remembered for his fun loving and kind nature towards kids and adults alike.
Dad shined as a piano teacher because his enthusiasm for music was contagious. He welcomed anyone to request whatever song under the sun they would like to learn. He gladly spent his own time reinventing a piano version of each requested song appropriate for the student’s level. One of my favorites growing up was a cool rendition of the opening song to the Simpsons show. Of course there were many boy band requests and video game tunes throughout the years which he also happily obliged. Dad wanted for everyone to play songs they actually enjoyed and for the piano to be fun, not a chore.
Many of Dad’s greatest friends were students. He loved chatting with them about their backgrounds and lives, and was not just an idle listener. He truly cared about everyone. From students, to family and friends….even down to homeless strangers who he would never walk past without giving something. There were times it was almost comical. During a bout with terrible back and neck pain along with chemo side effects, he called me to find out if my cold was any better, and whether my son’s small cut on his head from falling out of bed was healing. (My cold is just fine Dad, how’s your cancer?) Similarly, during one of several scary ER visits, he told me he had overheard a few nurses talking about him, saying he was “so nice.” Dad told me, “I hadn’t even done anything nice for them…all I did was ask them about themselves.” He seemed genuinely surprised when I told him that ER patients aren’t typically interested in the well-being or life stories of the hospital staff.
Growing up, Dad was described as the “fun dad” by our neighbors. While other parents lounged by the pool (or just stayed home-it was the 90’s), Dad was playing, chasing, and wrestling us with an uncanny amount of energy. (But REALLY…. if I saw a parent at the pool today with 4 or 5 kids and that amount of involvement and enthusiasm, I would be thoroughly impressed.) “Ricky Robot” was his spin on tag, which would start out with just myself and my siblings and/or friends, but would often end up with all the kids in the pool playing. Dad would press an imaginary “on” button by his ear, and following a loud buzz, Ricky Robot would come to life with a surge of energy and chase everyone around the pool. Right when he was inches away and you thought you were doomed, the robot’s charge would begin to die and Dad would (sometimes!) allow you to escape before recharging.
“Rock a Bye Baby” was another pool game like Ricky Robot which was 99% fun and 1% delightfully terrifying. Dad would cradle us in the water like a baby and sing the song soothingly. At any random moment, his singing abruptly stopped and you were hurdled into the air or flipped over backwards into the water.
When we were a bit older, we would jump and dive off the diving board for hours and he would diligently score each of us on a 1-10 scale (of course giving us a couple more points than we deserved). Similar to Ricky Robot, there would soon be a lineup of random kids at the diving board waiting for Dad to judge their cannon ball.
Despite a difficult past year involving worry, anticipation, and setback, Dad still had times of joy, happiness, and comedy. He was able to stay living at home due to Annette’s determination and willingness to dive into the world of home healthcare, something she knew nothing about. (As well as help from Jon and Julia with minor and major details that went along with that.) He was able to meet my newest son, Dean Richard, who is named after him and was born 12 days after Dad’s birthday. He continued teaching through everything, which he said was the only time he really forgot he was sick. He had lighthearted moments and laughed right until the end. Just in November, he was describing his favorite Simpsons joke, or at least trying to through his “can’t breathe” laugh. The doctor bluntly tells Homer Simpson, “You have 24 hours to live,” then glances at his watch and corrects himself. “Actually 23 hours. Sorry for the long wait.”
In one of his last moments of lucidity, I was holding my baby on his bed and Dad woke up to him doing a little shriek (sorry about that Dad). Dad’s eyes lit up when he looked at Dean, and he made a silly wide-eyed face at him to make him smile before falling back asleep. Just a simple fleeting moment such as that reminds you that cancer can take a life away, but it can’t take away someone’s spirit, personality, or a special moment or memory.
To end on an amusing note which I think he would approve of, here’s a little story from Dad’s childhood if you haven’t already heard it!
When he was a little boy, he was found to have impaired sight out of just one eye. No big deal…his parents ordered glasses per the recommendation. Dad was incredibly upset and dreaded the day the glasses would arrive. He believed everyone would make fun of him. When they finally came, he was overcome with relief when he saw them. He had been fretting because he thought he was going to have to wear a monocle like Mr. Peanut, since only one eye was bad!
Thank you to everyone who was a part of Dad’s life (even his childhood optometrist)…he was grateful for and loved you all.
From Stephen Powers
As one or Rick’s classmates at Vaca High, I will always remember him as the smartest, best looking, most athletic, and popular guy in the class. We lost touch with each other after graduation in ’67, but about twenty years ago, quite by chance, I ran into him at a book store in Sacramento and learned that he was teaching piano. My wife Elaine and I just happened to be looking for a piano teacher for our young son Jacob, and fortunately for us, Rick accepted him as a student. Thereafter, every Friday night, for the next ten years, the three of us would pile into the car and trek up the freeway from Vacaville to Davis for Jacob’s weekly piano lesson with Rick. Jacob truly enjoyed playing the piano - by the time he left for college, Rick had him playing Gershwin - and even though he does not play as much as he would like to these days, his appreciation and love of music can be traced in large part to Rick. Rick was not only a gifted musician and artist, but an amazing teacher - patient, kind and wise. As parents, we could not have asked for a better role model and mentor for our son than Rick. Their friendship over these many years, has been an important part of Jacob’s life.
Elaine and I got to know Rick and Annette as well. Despite our busy lives, we managed to enjoy a meal together from time to time and were their guests at a number of Julia’s ballet performances over the years. If I hadn’t heard from Rick for a while, I would pick up the phone and give him a call, and he would do the same with me. Rick was so proud of his father, a B-24 bomber pilot, who survived many combat missions in the Pacific during WWII. As a military history buff, I collect narratives of American war veterans, and was privileged to receive a copy from Rick of his dad’s handwritten combat flight diary. A couple of years ago, I was touched when Rick asked me to provide him with a letter of reference so that he could serve as a volunteer for Yolo County CASA. It was truly an honor for me to recommend a person of Rick’s character, integrity and rectitude.
Rick was a good friend to the three of us, and we miss him deeply.
From Rachelle Frank
I first met Rick when we were looking for a piano and Rebecca's piano teacher had mentioned Rick selling his piano. We were just about to get another piano when we heard about this one and it was such an honor to get his well used and loved piano. It has slight marks in it from Rick keeping the beat with his students all those years and he was the first to tell us that. Of course, to us that only added to the piano's uniqueness. When I met him, I found out that he taught Jazz Piano and told him that I hope to take Jazz piano some day. He smiled and gave me his info. At that point in time, our son Ben was under 1 year old so I didn't feel I had the bandwidth to start but then started anyway within a year. I worked with Rick for a while and appreciated so many things he taught me. He had such a supportive and easy going style, very different from my classical training all those years. Since that time, Rick worked with one of my best friends and both my children. With Rebecca very briefly (on her trips back from college) but with Ben for a few years. He was the perfect teacher for Ben. Ben truly appreciated Rick's approach. He learned music in a way that worked for him. Rick was so great at accommodating every individual and was so patient and understanding which allowed me to continue my lessons much longer than I otherwise would have done. When I would see Rick, he would periodically check in about his piano and he seemed happy to know it had a home with people who honored its history. I will always treasure my memories of Rick. He has made a difference in so many lives, and I thank him for all those he has touched that are close to me.
From Melecio Estrella
Rick was my piano teacher for seven years. I started with him when I was in fourth grade, at just ten years old. I met with him once a week, and I have always remembered my lessons with Rick fondly. Thinking back on it now, I never truly appreciated at the time how well he balanced the roles of an easy-going, musical friend, and a motivating teacher that pushed me in my progression as a pianist. Every single one of my lessons with Rick was comfortable, fun, and engaging. I could tell how much he loved the piano, and he could tell how enthusiastic I was about music too, and he fostered that connection with a warm, conversational way of teaching. I learned so much about musical theory and how to be a better pianist from Rick. So much, in fact, that I have often thought about reaching out to him to continue my lessons, should I move back to Davis. That is why I was particularly saddened when I learned of his passing. It was heartwarming to read his short biography in the newspaper and on this website. I never knew that he was so selflessly involved in his community, or that he was so passionate about other hobbies outside of music. Rick’s kindness as a teacher certainly had a positive impact in my life. Even though I haven’t taken any piano lessons since I stopped being Rick’s student back in 2011, I still play piano and it is one of my greatest loves in life. Thank you Rick, I will remember you forever.
From Deepali Bhargava
Rick was a mentor and teacher for our kids and soon became a friend to all of us. Rick was a very unique, very cool teacher. During his recitals, I would always observe that his students showed so much joy and pride while performing beautiful music. Utsav and Pranav had so much more to learn from Rick. Rick always had time to chat with us. As a parent, whose child wanted to pursue music as a career, I would often reach out to Rick and I was amazed how just speaking with him always calmed me down and gave me so much more confidence in me and my children. I miss having him around and just a phone call away. His positive attitude about everything in life and life itself blows me away and inspires me. We are so thankful that our family got to know Rick and Annette and he will be in our hearts forever!
From Markus Luty
My son Nicholas started studying piano with Rick about 4 years ago. I will never forget the very first lesson. Rick sat down with Nicholas at the piano and had Nicholas play a few things. Nicholas would sometimes start playing when Rick was in the middle of a sentence, and I was gritting my teeth thinking about what a bad impression Nicholas must be making on his new teacher. After a bit of this, Rick smiled at me and said "Nicholas is a chaotic learner, I have other students like that." Right then I felt that Rick was the right teacher for my son. Over the years, Rick taught him a mix of classical and jazz, reading musing and improvising, and most recently some music theory, always keeping it interesting. Nicholas still loves piano, which I think is one of the best things you can say about a piano teacher. Over several years and many lessons that I sat in on, I never saw Rick get impatient with my little "chaotic learner." I would often watch how Rick interacted with him during lessons to pick up some parenting pointers. Although I knew Rick only through these lessons, I think I can easily imagine him as a father, a husband, and a friend, and I am sure those who knew him more closely must miss him deeply. I will always treasure the time I had knowing him.
From Catherine Renaudin
My son Sebastien took lessons for few years with Rick. It was my pleasure to listen on the couch nearby Rick teaching his love and enthusiasm of music. My son would be happy to pick any music from a popular song of the moment and Rick would find the keys like magic under his talented fingers. I miss him.
From Claudia Krich
There has always been only ONE jazz piano teacher in Davis and beyond that I ever heard of, and that was Rick. When our daughters, Airy and Sophie Krich-Brinton, were young, they both took lessons with Rick, and it was a learning experience for me as well because the only way I knew to play piano was reading notes on the page. Not so for my daughters, who both loved Rick and their lessons, and got good, too. When Sophie was in high school she was delighted to be accepted into Jazz Band. Turns out that every year DHS band director Fred Lange would ask Rick what students were coming up for him to have join Jazz Band. Rick recommended our daughter (and SO many others) and it hugely affected her life and future. What a gift Rick gave to such a vast number of people. So so so sad to lose him so young, but what a huge impact he had while we had him.
From Sameera Shandu
Our family discovered Rick when a colleague at work told me about how amazing Rick was and how much he and his son both loved taking lessons from him. Piano lessons with Rick for first our older son Ojas and then our younger son Rohaan, weekend recitals followed by cookies have been a part of our lives for the last 8 years. The boys loved his easy, kind, happy manner and enthusiasm during lessons. He allowed them to learn the tunes they wanted to, pulling music off the net. He engaged them with stories and wove in life lessons along with sharing his passion for music. Even when they did not practice as much he had funny ways to remind them of the importance of practicing. When we messed up as parents or work took over our lives and we missed lessons, there was the gentlest of reminders from him on the phone as to when are the boys coming back. Intelligent, exceptionally talented and an awesome piano teacher, we will always be grateful for Rick and his joyful and giving presence in our lives.
From Jerry O'Neill
Hello, I was deeply moved by the beautiful celebration today. Every word I heard made perfect sense and validated everything I think I know about Rick. I have only known him since Evan began taking piano lessons about 3 years ago. But I instantly liked him. He was interested in many things, and he asked about my work. I am a consulting hydrogeologist and he had a geology class in college that he talked about. I also love music and have played guitar for a long time - so we often talked about music, older music and more modern music, and the role of the piano in contemporary music. He also talked about the varied music his students were learning. There was a teen who came after Evan who played Mozart. He told me he had classical, jazz, blues and heavy metal students. I looked forward to seeing him each week. You might wonder with all this talking, when did Evan get his lesson? Well Rick always gave Evan more than his fair share of time - he was very generous and often accommodated us when we were late or had to reschedule at the last minute.
One day after Evan's lesson Rick asked to speak to me privately. He informed me he just found out he had cancer. My heart sunk to my feet and my face must have turned whiter than normal. Before I could even formulate a word, he was reassuring me that "things are much better today than even just a few years ago" and I seem to recall that he "knew a friend who recently made a full recovery". My thoughts flew to my brother, just one year older than me, who died at 44 of cancer just a couple months after Evan was born, within a year of his diagnosis. But Rick was so positive that I was renewed with positive thoughts and knew that he would beat it. He assured me he would continue teaching as much as he could, and I assured him that we were there to support him.
Every week since then I have looked forward to seeing him. Selfishly, I was saddened when he began teaching out of his home because there was no easy way for me to talk with him - this was not Rick's fault - he was always welcoming of me. No this was Evan's doing! :-) Evan is 15 and has been doing the teenager thing not wanting his parents around and he simply wanted his lesson time to himself! He did not want me in the way. I respected this but really missed my conversations with Rick. Evan would update me and sometimes Rick would come out and when he did he looked great and I was so happy and he was doing so well! But then one day Evan told me he was in a wheel chair and had a brace around his neck and couldn't play piano anymore. My eyes could have filled a pond. I felt a sadness I hadn't felt in long time. Even when my Mom died about 2 years ago I didn't feel so sad. Then I saw Rick the next week and he was smiling! Just as Evan described, but smiling and ready to teach. Without any other information, I got my hopes up again.
Although this is totally and selfishly all from my perspective, it is also 100% true that I was so grateful and happy for Evan. Rick was certainly the best music teacher Evan ever had (he also plays the viola in the High School Orchestra, and he plays drums too), but I think he was also the best teacher period. He really let Evan be himself and play the kind of music he wanted to, and they explored it together. I think there is great power in those words "he let Evan be himself". That is what every good parent wants for their kids, but it's also the hardest thing to do. Thank God for people like Rick! (I am not a religious person but I am so grateful to have had Rick in our lives.) I was so impressed with his children speaking today. It's clear they loved their Dad and I am sure he knew it and deserved it. The one thing that gives me comfort is that Rick has such a wonderful family that loved him and supported him. From the pictures I can tell he was not in this alone. I am sure you were all a big part of the strength and energy and passion and love that he shared with his students, and that anyone who could feel the truth about anything knew this when meeting him. Yes he loved you but your love also sustained him and enabled him to have more love to share. So all of us who were lucky enough to know Rick even a little owe great appreciation to you as well.
You might wonder, as I have, how someone who hardly knew Rick could feel so strongly. Yes, his illness and untimely passing hit me hard. But I feel that is because he was genuine and compassionate, passionate and giving. He really stood out! And those qualities are the highest in the land. (I'm sure he was not perfect as was mentioned today, but who the hell is, honestly?) And I could tell today that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I feel I can really say that I loved him, as much as a good old friend, even though I was little more than an acquaintance. We already miss him greatly. I am still listening to his CD in my car even thought it's past the holidays. I just love listening to him play and am so grateful to have his CD. Evan has his in his laptop always. The one regret I have is not getting a picture of Evan and Rick together. Evan is not so expressive with his words now, and who can blame him? I wasn't always either. But I know he loved Rick as his teacher, mentor and friend. He felt safe to be himself there and was never worried about how much, or how little, he practiced. Because he was accepted either way. It meant the world to him to have that time.
Years ago when Evan and Liam were taking lessons at Music Stream Center, I bought a Casio digital piano that looks like a real upright. It is a very nice instrument, but recently Evan has complained he doesn’t have a real piano. Out of the blue a facebook friend of Judy’s said she was looking for a new home for her 1960s Baldwin upright, and we accepted it just Friday. It seems to have a personality. I just thought today as the kids came home and placed their Believe stones on it that maybe Rick had a hand in guiding that piano our way. There’s more I can say, but I want to send this tonight. I wish you all peace and happiness as you treasure your memories now and forever. You are all in our hearts as we were lucky enough to share in Rick’s love and passion for music and his students, and his joy in life. He is with us all and will be missed. Thank you for sharing the celebration with us. - Jerry O’Neill
From Brianne Leymaster
I met Rick about a year an a half ago when I was searching for a piano teacher close by. Couldn’t get any closer than 2 doors down! It was a convenient arrangement to say the least, but it soon turned into chatting and talking about music and life. He made a point to say that he would only charge me for the 1/2 hour, but it would usually be an hour. Our lessons started right about the time when my mom was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and we talked a lot about that, how she was dealing with it, and how her spirit was. I soon found out his diagnosis and well, those were some talks. We found out they were the same age, and that it had just come back unexpectedly, and presented itself in unusual places given what their cancers were. He was someone I could talk to about my mom every week. What a source of comfort he was - even when he was experiencing similar things. Music was a release for me - learning to play and sing with the emotions I was going through. He talked me into performing at the December recital - even though it made me so nervous. I’m really glad I did it. It is on my list of true accomplishments for my adult life. (I never got to tell him that) I painted some rocks and put them in their front yard. They would make me smile as I walked up to get my next lesson. I keep my Believe rock on my piano, and even though its been just a few days, I think about him and what he did for me often.
Orrin, 8 years old, started lessons with Rick 5 months ago. It was funny how very little difference there was in our lessons. Rick would talk to him just the same way as he would me, and I could tell Orrin responded to that. He had such patience for him! More than I have. I remember Orrin walking into a lesson humming a song he heard on a commercial. Rick said “I know that song, here let me teach it to you!” Wow. He plays that song several times a day - it will always make us think of him. Orrin, too, was scared of doing the recital, scared of playing in front of people. Rick talked him into it, and by the time it came around he had added 4 more songs to the the ones he wanted to play! He will be performing that commercial piece later this month in the school talent show - something he would not have had the courage to do if it was not for his experience with Rick.
From Wayne Fields
It has taken me some time to be able to share a story about met relationship with Rick. I met him in 1990-91 looking for a jazz piano teacher when I moved to Fairfield. I can't tell you how nervous I was to play for him and the numerous mistakes I made doing so, but Rick being Rick was so supportive and encouraging that I didn't feel like crawling into a hole. That started a relationship that lasted until the time he passed. We realized after awhile that we had many things in common - his birthday was 4 days after mine in July and the more we spent time together the more we shared our lives and life adventures. We met often to have breakfast at Cafe Italia in Davis and for 30 years we ordered the same breakfast - Rick liked a Spinach omelette and I ordered the Ham and Cheese omelette. The people in the restaurant got to know us and we spent hours there talking long after our meal was finished. We would spend time walking in downtown Davis, visiting the local music shop, touring the college campus and occasionally looking for odds and ends in some of the specialty stores. We treasured this time, away from routine, away from life's pressures, just friends sharing the inside stuff that often has no audience. Sometimes months would pass and we would not see each other but we always found a way back, alternating between Davis and Fairfied for our breakfast. My piano playing slowly improved but never got to where I thought it could be Rick never stopped encouraging me to continue. Eventually I brought my grandson to him to start lessons and watched as they formed a bond that was special. That was Rick's gift - the ability to cross generations and connect with children who were eager to learn and the gift of being able to reach and inspire the more "mature" generation as they reached back to be young again through music. I will miss my friend but as I play his music and hear the things he wrote come to life I know that he will always be there with me encouraging me to continue and listening to me as I quietly share my lifes stories and adventures. Not much of a story but for 30 years it was ours.
From Judy Catambay
Rick came with a huge recommendation from another family, as a piano teacher who inspires. We were surely lucky to have found Rick for our son, Evan. He came at the perfect time - just before entering the harder to reach teen years. This was not a problem for Rick. We soon discovered that Rick did inspire, and not just inspire. His gentle and open ways mentored our son. He believed in our son, just the way he was. Seems like a simple thing for a teacher, but it is actually extremely rare and a beautiful gem of a find for us. Even when our son would get stressed out prior to the recitals, he never wavered about going, and Rick’s warm smile and simple greeting would put him at ease. Evan played exactly the music that he wanted to learn, which was video game theme songs and complicated music for animes. Rick not only worked with him on this, but he did so with matched enthusiasm. We are lucky to have had several years with Rick’s guidance at the piano, and he will forever have influenced our son. Our heart goes out to family and close loved ones. Rick was such a warm light and blessing for everyone.
From Ramona Swenson
My son took lessons from Rick for 7 years, up to last summer. Rick’s teaching style of following the student’s interest rekindled Liam’s interest in playing. I have many happy memories of listening to him play, even a composition of his own. After my own father passed in 2017, I was searching for new things to try so I decided to take lessons myself. My last lessons were 4 decades ago in classical style. This time I wanted to learn to accompany myself singing. Rick wrote an arrangement and taught me that “circle of fifths”. When he explained how pop and jazz chords are typically constructed in songs, I was like a child who suddenly realizes that syllables are connected into predictable musical words. Pretty cool revelation in my 50’s! At the next recital my son played, and then Rick announced me to the surprise of the other parents. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to check off this bucket list experience. Rick had so many stories to illustrate chord progressions in famous songs, we often spent more time talking than playing. My busy schedule made it hard for me to fit in practice. But he was so gracious and never made me feel bad about it. He just encouraged me to drop in when I could. I will be forever grateful to Rick for fostering in my son and I a love and appreciation of music, by and for oneself.
From Dana Natov
I've known Rick for nearly 14 years as a former student and friend. I'm deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Rick taught me much more than just piano. His hands off approach and his always friendly (sometimes playfully sarcastic) style to teaching earned my love and respect as a student and friend. He ingrained my love of jazz, solidified my approach to tough situations through a challenging curriculum and helped guide me through my life from elementary school to the challenges of graduating college. He will be sorely missed.
From Jean Shepard
This isn't a story, just some memories. My daughter and I always looked forward to our weekly trip to Rick's piano studio on Drake. We'd step inside and enter a refuge - the sounds of a piano lesson on the other side of the bookcase, a comfortable couch, and a wide selection of books to read. Once I noticed a book of photos on the coffee table by Kerry Drager - thought he must be a relative, and so he was! After my daughter had taken a year or so of lessons, she decided she didn't want me to sit in the waiting area during her lesson. Rick tactfully said when he'd taken piano lessons, he wouldn't have wanted his mother to listen. So after that I waited in the car.
From Matilda Hofman
Rick was always funny, cheerful and interested in all his students. We are so grateful that he shared his music with us, and that he was Lorenzo's teacher!
Louise Bettner
I will always cherish the memory of playing Rick's arrangement of "My Funny Valentine". It's the song I played for my late husband the night we got married. Rick's jazz version is very special!
Celia Cottle
Rick was always the best jazz piano teacher and he is already greatly missed. A part of him lives on in all those students who were lucky enough to have studied with him.