• cheerfully delivering the Chicago Tribune on his bicycle in the below-zero, icy winds of an Illinois morning
• lovingly playing with his beautiful white dog and companion, Chinook
• a tanned boy running on the sand and in the surf at Huntington State Beach
• tossing frisbees at the park — and skateboarding everywhere
• happily dashing down the steep, snow-covered slopes and difficult moguls of Alta and Snowbird, Utah — often on wooden, cross-country skis with his sister Kathy.

In 1977 his family moved to Huntington Beach, California.  After leaving high school there, Richard for several years worked with computers and as a payroll clerk.  However, regular paychecks and a conventional life did not satisfy his deep needs.  He then began a long and difficult search to find his mission and the place of his dreams and opportunities:  his own Shangri-la and heaven on earth.

Richard travelled extensively throughout North America.  Countless trips from California across to the Atlantic, and up and down from Alaska and Canada to the jungles of Central America.  The photo at the right shows Richard as he was leaving Napa on a trip in February 1980.  Over his last decade he lived in San Diego and Santa Cruz, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; San Christobal de Las Casas, Mexico; Costa Rica; Dutch Harbor, Alaska; and finally near Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.  He saw more of this continent than most of us will ever see.

The photo at the left shows Richard when he visited the Olson residence at Mt. Baldy on Christmas 1985.  Richard made friends everywhere he went.  He loved mankind and desperately searched for ways that he could improve the world and the lives of the people around him.  He worked to help the homeless.  For years he worked with the Mayan Indians.  He read extensively and had very high ideals and aspirations.

Richard studied Christianity as well as the other religions of the world.  For years, his goal was to found and start a religious university.  A pacifist and vegetarian, he preached and taught the ways of peace and freedom.  He yearned for better times, without wars and dictators, away from the pressures of modern business and bureaucracy.

Richard loved nature and plants.  He enjoyed a simpler life, close to nature.  He believed strongly in ecology.  He worked on farms in Canada and in the icy waters of Alaska.  He planted trees on his land in Guatemala the day before he passed on.

Richard himself perhaps best described his life's saga in his own words.  The following are brief excerpts from his writings:

"I was basically a typical intelligent middle-class American with an above average desire to know the truth and fix all the world's problems.  I spent three quarters at the University of Utah — for the most part wasting time on classes not answering my most burning questions."

"The highs and lows are difficult to endure — like an out-of-control roller coaster . . .   I pray to see the lessening of the extremes."

"I minister to Christ asking how I may best serve to purify the Earth and make way for the chosen lord of the land I inhabit.  I've been baptized in Christ's spirit and given the opportunity to redeem myself through good service, prayer, and self purification."

Before the Resurrection Catholic Community Church in November 1987, he spoke:  "I pray for peace on Earth, for all the heavens and hells to be reconciled in peace.  I offer the principle that peace begins at home."

"Love is the answer.  True love in deed.  Christ was sent, as a teacher by example and spiritual presence, to demonstrate the way we should all try to live."

The following is an extract from Richard's "Knocking on Heaven's Door":

"Knock knock knocking on Heaven's door
    knock knock knocking . . .
      knock knock knocking . . .
        the door slowly opens
  Doorkeeper:  What do you want?
        To live in Heaven.
  Doorkeeper:  You're in Heaven.
        This doesn't look like Heaven.
  Doorkeeper:  Let me explain something.
        Please do.
  Doorkeeper:  You're still in time.  Looking into your future, I can see
        you're in Heaven on Earth.  You just haven't realized it yet."

Richard lived life to the fullest and was a free spirit.  On 23 Jul 1992 he visited a bar in San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala.  When he leaned on the second-story railing, it gave way and he fell head-first to the pavement below.  Rich never regained consciousness.  At age 29 and 10 months he joined his sister at Westminster Memorial Park and now surely realizes that he is in Heaven.