Richard--A great tennis player who led us from Community Park to Pelican Marsh to the Sectionals in Daytona in 2009.  I remember Anna's Restaurant where Richard ate healthy.  Then our trips to Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson in April, 2010 to play in the USTA Nationals.  Richard played like a professional always getting the ball back. He played on the 50s and 60s teams.  Playing with Richard for 6 years, I never saw him double fault or argue a line call. Richard loved tennis and we loved Richard. 

Just one additional note about Richard.  For 6 years I saw Richard on his bike going to and from the tennis center always on time for tennis but never in his car. Maybe we all should ride bikes to and from tennis and play great tennis like Richard.

We loved going to the movies at SilverSpot with Richard and Anne, which we did often.  Richard always wanted to sit in those big leather seats in the top row so no one was in front of him.  We saw War Horse together.  Ever since then, he loved to look for the quote at the end of the credits, which we usually stayed to watch for every movie, that “No animals were harmed in the making this film.”   Just an example of his sometimes wry sense of humor.

I knew it was coming but nevertheless am devastated at the prospect.  Rich was one of my favorite people.   When his friend David came over from the Park team to reconstitute a team here, Jim Brock and I put in a great effort to interest Rich.  He wanted NO PART OF COMPETITIVE TEAM TENNIS.  Eventually, he gave in.  Not only was he a fine player but a real sportsman and gentleman.  He gained a great friend in David, as well.  Recently when I reminded him of Jim's and my efforts and asked him, "Aren't you glad we did?" he answered, “YES, it was one of the best times I ever had."  His teammates always held him with respect and great esteem.

Jan and I have some very fond memories of Richard…………………..
 
We were on, perhaps, 3 cruises with them.   Whatever port we were in, Richard and Anne took off for the day to the best beaches available, that they loved to explore.  Barbados was one of their favorite islands.
 
Richard loved tennis and no matter what shot you made, he was the master at consistently returning it, from either side.
 
Summer beach sunsets with Richard and Anne were always welcomed.    They both loved the ocean, swimming and watching the Naples sun disappear.
 
We are so both very very sad over this.    Words can't express.

One little memory.   It's never too late to learn.  Richard had to learn to double knot his tennis 
shoes in Tucson. His shoes would not stay tied and Anne was not always around to tie them for him.

I didn't know Richard for very long and only from our brief encounters on the tennis court. I can say that Richard was a joy to play with and against. He was competitive yet always had his sense of humor and never took the game too seriously.

He enjoyed playing and never lost focus that at our level of play, the main objective was to have fun. I use to kid him and tell him that the real reason we lost ninety five percent of our matches last year was we were just not very good. He got a big kick out of that and reminded me every time we played. Richard was a kind and gentle person who will be missed by his friends and the tennis community.

Any place with water, Richard jumped in.  On a group trip to New Zealand, he swam in three bodies of water in a single day--a river, the ocean, and the pool.  They called him the Mark Spitz of the tour. 

When Ann and Richard were in Italy, Richard was swimming along the shoreline in the Adriatic near where a young couple was being married.  Anne was sure that some of the pictures their photographer took showed Richard swimming by in the background.

The first time Richard's friend David saw Richard swimming along Vanderbilt beach, he looked for who was swimming along with him.  To David's astonishment, there was no one, and Richard said he always swam alone.  “Haven't you heard about the ‘Buddy System?'” David asked.  “NO,” he said, “I don't need one.”

He loved California—the scenery, the family there, the feel of it, the ocean where he could swim.

Many fond memories of warm smiles, laughter and joy of life

Richard Hunt, the gentleman of the courts, has left us. He always added a
little spice to the game of tennis. A very special guy with a wonderful
sense of humor. We will surely miss him.



Anne,

Although I had known Richard for several years, it was as an acquaintance -a wave hello or other brief greeting.  However, when I began to play tennis my relationship and feeling for him moved to a higher level.  As a player, he was competitive, smart, knowledgeable and overall excellent.  More importantly, after a match I found him to be warm, witty, intelligent and enjoyable.  If I had to sum up in one word a description for Richard, it would be "class".

Anne we want you and your family to know that Kathy and I will always remember Richard and you in our prayers.

         

Dearest Richard....the first non-Italian admitted the family! He brought so much joy to every holiday celebration........the eclectic knowledge, cheerful wit, with just the right amount of sarcasm, the warmth and the love that Richard contributed to our gatherings will be sorely missed...we loved him, and our lives were so much richer because of his presence. Love you, Richard!

Floppy hat, sneakers, yellow bathing suit and a Barbados shirt.  He'll be wearing that when we see him in heaven.  We will never forget him and will carry his spirit in our hearts.  Life is Good because he was in our lives.  We will miss him.


Our thoughts and prayers are with Richard's family during this time of sorrow.  He was a wonderful person.



Richard was a wonderful man. We loved him very much and will miss him dearly. 

Will miss your quips on the tennis court as well as sharing Bajan experiences.
R.I.P.

OBITUARY

Richard H Hunt

10 January, 1934 – 18 April, 2013

Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens

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