Rich was born on August 4th, 1938, to Richard and Doreen in the borough of Poplar in London, England. He attended the Raine’s Foundation School and emerged resilient from the challenges of the World War II bombing campaign in London.
In 1963, Rich embarked on a journey to the United States of America, driven by the pursuit of the American dream—an aspiration he achieved in a myriad of ways. His diverse career spanned roles as a professional diver for Marineland, a space suit tester for NASA during the Apollo program, a dedicated Firefighter-Paramedic, and later Captain for the Manhattan Beach Fire Department. After the family moved to Fallbrook California, he went on to serve as Fire Chief for Rincon Del Diablo Fire Department and Assistant Fire Chief for the Escondido Fire Department. Even in retirement, he continued his service as the General Manager for Fire Agencies Insurance Risk Authority (FAIRA), overseeing the protection of 104+ Fire and Emergency Service Agencies in California and Nevada.
In 1963, Rich married Susan Strand in San Pedro, California, where their two children, Jonathan and Sarah were born. Later in life, he moved to Novato California where he married Susan Blankenburg and spent cherished hours tinkering in his airplane hangar at Gnoss Field and sharing conversations and stories with good friends.
Rich embraced life with a passion for new adventures and challenges. His interests ranged from nurturing parakeets, lovebirds, and turkeys, to tending to koi fish. He found joy in vacations, boating, camping trips to Catalina Island, Mammoth Mountain, Lake Havasu, Cancun, and the Colorado River. As a private pilot, he indulged in building kit planes and exploring the world, with a special fondness for visits to England to reconnect with family and friends.
He is survived by his two children, Jonathan and Sarah, their respective spouses, Jennie and Tom, and his four cherished grandchildren, Kelsey, Sarah, Nicole, and Ryan.
Rich’s legacy is one of resilience, dedication, and an unwavering zest for life. He will be remembered fondly by all whose lives he touched, leaving behind a trail of cherished memories and inspiration
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