From Joe Malone:
I was first a fan; a casual, then serious, buyer of his products since the late 1970s; then at the end of the century, we finally met and became good friends. I shilled for him both online and in person at some of his readings. I peddled his books at "First Night Monterey" in 2006 while he sat in the limelight, signed autographs and schmoozed the adoring audience. He wrote a piece in honor of my wife's passing and spoke at her memorial in 2005. That poem (Nancy Malone) was published recently in "Going Out Dancing" by "Skinner House Books: in Boston. Ric claimed that I had the only complete collection of his published poems in existence. I was privileged to hold his hand (Photo attached) four days before he died. Unfortunately, I was traveling when the family scheduled his memorial on what would have been his 79th birthday.
All of the above is to say, I loved the man. He was human and flawed but a giant in a small package. We disagreed occasionally but more often than not he successfully moved me slightly to the left of center. He could and did speak to those all across the philosophical spectrum
from those folks he (irreverently) called "The Fundies" to his safe haven in the UU congregations across the nation. BTW - With his last out-of-town trip to Bismarck, ND in 2007, Ric performed in all 48 contiguous state plus Alaska. His crowning glory, however, may have been the strength, generosity and love he shared during his decade-long battle with Advanced Prostate Cancer. No man could have left a larger legacy than that.
Ricster? R.I.P.
PS - (Ever the shill - post mortem) On the day he died, Ric's family took receipt of a shipment of new books titled "Words & One-Liners - Take Three (Not Dead Yet)". Note the irony. Any assistance you can give the family to move those books would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure. Part of his material legacy is tied up in those products.
PPS - I attached 2 pics. I am the beard. The other person is Robert
Weston, a mutual friend and Pacific Grove poet in his own right.
I was first a fan; a casual, then serious, buyer of his products since the late 1970s; then at the end of the century, we finally met and became good friends. I shilled for him both online and in person at some of his readings. I peddled his books at "First Night Monterey" in 2006 while he sat in the limelight, signed autographs and schmoozed the adoring audience. He wrote a piece in honor of my wife's passing and spoke at her memorial in 2005. That poem (Nancy Malone) was published recently in "Going Out Dancing" by "Skinner House Books: in Boston. Ric claimed that I had the only complete collection of his published poems in existence. I was privileged to hold his hand (Photo attached) four days before he died. Unfortunately, I was traveling when the family scheduled his memorial on what would have been his 79th birthday.
All of the above is to say, I loved the man. He was human and flawed but a giant in a small package. We disagreed occasionally but more often than not he successfully moved me slightly to the left of center. He could and did speak to those all across the philosophical spectrum
from those folks he (irreverently) called "The Fundies" to his safe haven in the UU congregations across the nation. BTW - With his last out-of-town trip to Bismarck, ND in 2007, Ric performed in all 48 contiguous state plus Alaska. His crowning glory, however, may have been the strength, generosity and love he shared during his decade-long battle with Advanced Prostate Cancer. No man could have left a larger legacy than that.
Ricster? R.I.P.
PS - (Ever the shill - post mortem) On the day he died, Ric's family took receipt of a shipment of new books titled "Words & One-Liners - Take Three (Not Dead Yet)". Note the irony. Any assistance you can give the family to move those books would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure. Part of his material legacy is tied up in those products.
PPS - I attached 2 pics. I am the beard. The other person is Robert
Weston, a mutual friend and Pacific Grove poet in his own right.
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