RICHIE SANTOS
5/1/88-11/9/11
Richie was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens. New York was always where his heart was. He would have moved back in a heartbeat, or really anywhere up north. He loved the cold weather. Couldn’t get much use out of his favorite North Face jacket down here.
Richie graduated from Freedom High in 2006. From there he took some time off of school because it wasn’t really his thing. He did make the attempt at college, but decided it wasn’t really for him. Instead, he decided he wanted to go to the Criminal Justice Academy. Boy, did he love that training. Every day he would come home and tell me about everything he had learned. He would show me different techniques they had learned. He loved their defensive tactics class. His worst memory from TECO would probably be the day they all got pepper sprayed. I remember it like it was yesterday; when I saw him I wanted to cry! The poor guys whole face and ears were bright red. He couldn’t get the burning to go away. When he finally did he was able to laugh about it all and tell me how funny it was watching everyone afterwards (although at the actual moment it wasn’t all too funny). Richie graduated with such pride from TECO Criminal Justice Academy in 2010. I couldn’t have been more proud.
So many people were proud of Richie, although he didn’t really see it. He had a heart of gold. All older ladies always wanted him as their son. He was the biggest sweetheart. He would sit and listen to anyone! We couldn’t step foot in public without him running into someone. All the younger kids looked up to him, and he was a great role model to have. Richie wasn’t a drinker nor did he do drugs. He was always staying out of trouble. He was happy sitting at home or at a friend’s house playing video games, talking, listening to music, oh and I can’t forget… eating! Richie loved to eat. Ice cream, chicken fingers, French fries, nothing healthy of course. He always enjoyed everything I cooked, never complained once (smart man). But he also enjoyed going out to eat. He always wanted to go to Chili’s for their honey chipotle crispers, or to Ale House. He always wanted to get the beer battered onion rings from there.
We can’t forget about Richie’s hobby of cars. He LOVED cars. Richie’s cars were an expression of who he was. He always had to have nice cars. He liked to have rims, exhausts, systems, and dark tints. If he didn’t have any of those things on his car then the car just wasn’t right. His cars were his babies, especially his Altima. He cleaned that thing once a week. He was so proud to have such a nice car and be able to maintain it. You couldn’t even leave a hair in it!
Richie’s life changed drastically when we found out we were expecting. He took the news like a champ though. He was so proud when I told him he was going to be a daddy. He moved back to Florida to be by my side and has been there since. He was so protective of my belly; everyone had to be careful around me because he didn’t want anyone to bump into it. It was really cute. He loved rubbing my belly and feeling our son move around. And boy was he so excited when he saw we were having a boy. The day our son came into the world Richie lit up. He had never been so happy in his life. That moment our son became his everything. I had to fight him for Mateo. He always wanted to lay down with him and sleep with him. It was so sweet and it melted my heart. He took so much pride in his son. He always wanted to take him out and show him off. As Teo got older and became mobile he would go right to daddy as soon as he heard him come in the door. He was daddy’s little man. When they would play, no one else would matter. Even mommy couldn’t interfere. Their laughter together was enough to clear away the clouds. Wherever daddy went in the apartment Teo would follow. I could have sat and watched the two of them play together forever. When it came to diaper changes that, was a different story. Richie disappeared at the first sign of stink. When I would want Teo to sleep in his own bed Richie wouldn’t let me put down because he wanted to take him and sleep with him instead. Nothing is sweeter than a father and his child.
After the birth of our son we decided to take the next step in our relationship. Richie proposed and there was no way I could have turned him down. The smile on his face when he saw me walking down the isle was about as big as the smile on his face when he saw our son for the first time. Our wedding day was amazing. A day I could never forget. Our honeymoon was just as amazing. The joy and laughter and love we shared could not be replaced by anyone.
Richie was an amazing father and an amazing son. He was taken from us far too soon, but we are blessed that he left behind many wonderful memories. I know that he would want us all to remember these times we shared with him and go on living happily. He hated to see someone cry. If he couldn’t console me he would warn me that if I didn’t stop crying he would leave. His heart was too big; he didn’t like to see anyone in pain, physical or emotional. Richie had so many joyous moments in his life. But now, he’s resting peacefully, out of pain, and watching over all of us. We will see him again though.
May you rest in peace my dearest husband, you will ALWAYS be loved and NEVER forgotten.
Survived by:
Wife: Kelli Hudon
Son: Mateo Santos
Mother: Norma Gonzalez
Father: Ricardo Santos
Sister: Norma Santos
Brother: Thomas Gonzalez
Brother: Robert Gonzalez
Brother: Ricardo Santos
Sister: Marisol Santos
Sister: Carmen Santos
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