My most vivid memory of Richard was when he was shot on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley while on motorcycle patrol. I went to visit him at Alta Bates Hospital. He was in pretty bad shape, but he came through it. Amazingly, he went back to the police department and taught motorcycle technique. Most officers, after being shot on duty, would have retired with full benefits. Not Richard. Richard was an outstanding individual. I was very sorry to hear he passed. He will be missed!
I’ve known Richard since 3rd grade at Emerson Elementary when he moved with his parents, Olga and Ricardo, to 50th Street. We were both born and raised in Oakland of Italian parentage. He was a great friend and always a very funny guy. As his house was on my way to school, we would usually walk to and from school together through 6th grade. Rich went to Woodrow Wilson junior high and I went to Claremont because of our different district address. Our friendship continued regardless as we spent much of our time at each other’s houses. We reunited at Oakland Tech and Oakland City College. Rich went to San Jose State and I to SF State. About a year and a half later, Rich took the Oakland Police Department entrance exam, as he put it, “Just to see how hard it is!” He passed and his career in law enforcement began.
In the shooting incident Bob Knox refers to, Rich suffered major injuries including the loss of a kidney. And, yes, he recovered and returned to active duty as a motorcycle patrolman and, ultimately, as the instructor of subsequent motorcycle officer training classes, I believe until his retirement. In recent years, a medical condition damaged his remaining kidney and he had been on dialysis the past year or so.
He was a motorcycle enthusiast his entire life owning, at various times, a Matchless, a Royal Enfield, and, of course, a number of Harley’s. I’m sure he’s raising hell on a “hog” somewhere.
I, too, have known Richard since elementary school, middle school and Tech! Many thought he was my brother. I saw him many times when we lived in Pleasant Hill. And at the 50th Reunion. He sat at our table and re-signed my year book. I still have the little paper her drew a foot on and wrote "foot note". Only warmest mempries of him. My thoughts are with his family!
Robert Knox
My most vivid memory of Richard was when he was shot on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley while on motorcycle patrol. I went to visit him at Alta Bates Hospital. He was in pretty bad shape, but he came through it. Amazingly, he went back to the police department and taught motorcycle technique. Most officers, after being shot on duty, would have retired with full benefits. Not Richard. Richard was an outstanding individual. I was very sorry to hear he passed. He will be missed!
Gerald Giovacchini
I’ve known Richard since 3rd grade at Emerson Elementary when he moved with his parents, Olga and Ricardo, to 50th Street. We were both born and raised in Oakland of Italian parentage. He was a great friend and always a very funny guy. As his house was on my way to school, we would usually walk to and from school together through 6th grade. Rich went to Woodrow Wilson junior high and I went to Claremont because of our different district address. Our friendship continued regardless as we spent much of our time at each other’s houses. We reunited at Oakland Tech and Oakland City College. Rich went to San Jose State and I to SF State. About a year and a half later, Rich took the Oakland Police Department entrance exam, as he put it, “Just to see how hard it is!” He passed and his career in law enforcement began.
In the shooting incident Bob Knox refers to, Rich suffered major injuries including the loss of a kidney. And, yes, he recovered and returned to active duty as a motorcycle patrolman and, ultimately, as the instructor of subsequent motorcycle officer training classes, I believe until his retirement. In recent years, a medical condition damaged his remaining kidney and he had been on dialysis the past year or so.
He was a motorcycle enthusiast his entire life owning, at various times, a Matchless, a Royal Enfield, and, of course, a number of Harley’s. I’m sure he’s raising hell on a “hog” somewhere.
Ride on, my good friend.
Valerie Busby (Gannon)
I, too, have known Richard since elementary school, middle school and Tech! Many thought he was my brother. I saw him many times when we lived in Pleasant Hill. And at the 50th Reunion. He sat at our table and re-signed my year book. I still have the little paper her drew a foot on and wrote "foot note". Only warmest mempries of him. My thoughts are with his family!