Home Forums General Discussion Sad News For All Who Knew and Loved Richie

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  • #462855
    Forum Admin
    Keymaster

    Dear RBF Community Forums Users:

    Road Back Foundation (RBF) has been notified today of the passing, last week, of a long-time and well-loved Community Forum volunteer, and it is with profound sadness and regret that we must share this news.

    Richard, known on the Community Forum as “Richie,” provided unwavering support to innumerable foundation visitors who suffered with various forms of scleroderma. Richie’s wife has let us know that his passing was peaceful, although unexpected and sudden, after a short-term hospital stay and the discovery of cancer. Richie’s wife also shared with RBF that she is thankful that Richie lived with “100% good health” and remission from scleroderma while taking Minocin for the past 20 years. They had enjoyed 55 years of fun and laughter together and he was well-loved by his children and grandchildren.

    Richie was truly an inspiration, not only because of his remarkable recovery from systemic scleroderma, but also because, over the course of the past 2 decades, he generously shared his AP Remission Story countless times in order to help, encourage, and inspire others with the hope of recovery using Antibiotic Protocols. There is no doubt that Richie has changed untold numbers of lives for the better through his selfless service to this community, and RBF will be forever grateful for his constant presence here and also to his loving wife for sharing him in this way.

    Rest in peace, dear Richie. You will be sorely missed by us all and your memory will continue to live on in the lives of all those you have helped.

    Richie’s wife has kindly granted her permission to pass on this sad news to the RBF community, and she has requested that the news of her dear husband’s passing is not disseminated on other social media websites. RBF trusts that all its forum users will respect her wishes and the privacy of Richie’s family at this very sad time. Thank you.

    #462860
    lynnie_sydney
    Participant

    Vale Richie!
    I was grateful for, uplifted by – and frequently amused by – your generous and eminently sensible contributions over 17 years. You will be very much missed here.

    Be well! Lynnie

    Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
    Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
    rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
    Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
    Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

    #462861
    Suzanne
    Participant

    I am shocked and saddened to learn of Richie’s passing. He was a leader of this community and his wisdom will be missed. May he rest in peace and may his family be comforted by knowing that he touched so many lives all over the world.

    Mom of teen daughter with Poly JIA since age 2. Current med: azithromycin 250 mg MWF.

    #462862
    Jan Lucinda1
    Participant

    I am saddened to hear of Ritchie’s passing. He was a wonderful volunteer and will be greatly missed.

    #462863
    Cheryl F
    Keymaster

    I will share a humorous tale of Richie. Years ago, when RBF transitioned to a discussion forum from a bulliten Board because we were being hit with hundreds of porn spam posts per day, we volunteers were the first to set up our accounts. Because Richie was so adored on the bulliten board, as a joke, I decided to give him a fitting avatar, a photo of George Clooney, at the time voted “sexiest man alive.” I told Richie I would take it down and he said “no leave it!” Everytime I have logged in and see that Avatar I remember our good times together keeping RBF up and running. He was a cornerstone of this Foundation. Touched more lives than will ever be counted!

    Rest In Peace dear friend!

    Cheryl

    #462864
    JeffN
    Participant

    Fair winds and following seas Richie. Grateful for the help and advice you provided over the years.

    #462865
    Lynne G.SD
    Participant

    Oh this is so sad,can hardly believe it.Love you Richie where ever you are.

    #462866
    Jan Lucinda1
    Participant

    Ritchie will be missed but to honor him, we will carry on the dispersing of information about AP. That is what he would want. Maybe a permanent memorial to him here.

    #462867
    Cheryl F
    Keymaster

    Once many have had a chance to make their comments, we are planning to print and bind these comments into a book to send to his wife. Just so you know, your words will reach his loved ones.

    Cheryl

    #462868
    Pinkmoth
    Keymaster

    I think it’s fair to say that Richie was a shining beacon to many of us – looking to him as an example of what is possible if we stay hopeful, stay the course with ABX and remain diligent with our self-care. I think it’s also fair to say that I won’t be the only one to really miss seeing him around. He had a lot of spirit and wisdom to share.

    Autoimmune: ANA positive speckled. Probable MCTD with SD overlap. Hashimoto's. Possible Erlos Danlos. Mold Illness.
    Infections: Bartonella, toxoplasmosis, mycoplasma, EBV
    Meds: minocycline (Zydus generic) 100mg 1x daily,
    Supps: digestive enzymes, Monolaurin, Betaine hydrochloric acid, iron, quercetin, biocidin

    #462869
    jasregadoo
    Moderator

    OH NO!
    I am so very sorry to hear this. Richie was the voice of common sense to so many of us here, and did give us hope. Hope does not leave with him, but our forum will be less bright without his (sometimes snarky, but only when needed) wisdom.

    Blessings to his family. Thank you for sharing him with us.

    #462870
    redrock
    Participant

    I’m shocked and speechless. So sorry to hear this.

    #462873
    TrustingGod
    Participant

    I am saddened to hear about Richie’s passing. He was always willing to share any information that he thought would be helpful. I am keeping his family in my thoughts and prayers.

    #462882
    whaleharbor
    Keymaster

    Words cannot even begin to express what Richie has meant to me. When I first discovered the concept of RA being treated with antibiotics I found this website and I found Richie on this forum. I poured over countless posts from so many of you. Richie’s posts were some of the ones that I held onto as I was first fighting to find a doctor to help me with AP and then later getting through the early months on AP. He was well-informed, pragmatic, grounded and I needed that so much. Turns out, we went to the same AP doctor, at least initially…he for SD me for RA…but we shared an appreciation for that doctor as well. Later when my pharmacy switched generics on me and I had a major relapse…it was Richie’s wise words that told us all to make a relationship with a local independent pharmacy so we could get the generic brand that best suited us. That was the best advice ever. Once again, the RBF through this forum…and help from so many of you…and help from Richie specifically, saved me.

    The RBF saved my life – period, full stop. Richie was one of the individuals whose knowledge and commitment to the RBF made it possible for me to live. I know that sounds dramatic but it’s just how it is.

    I can’t help but think that he’d want us all to pay careful attention that what took his life was not SD but something unrelated. I’m glad his wife reported that he was in excellent health until the very end.

    The world was a better place because of Richie. He literally saved countless lives. His posts here will continue to save untold lives. I will miss his funny and matter-of-fact ways. He called ’em as he saw them and made no apologies for his very wise viewpoints. I appreciated that about him.

    Godspeed, Richie. You’ve done so much good in your life. I am truly so grateful for you.

    Minocycline 100mg every other day with food...lots of food: Zydus brand. Celecoxib 200mg twice per day: Greenstone brand.

    #462884
    Spiffy1
    Moderator

    This was both shocking and so terribly sad. I know he was not finished here helping others. There were still too many people to show the way! I cannot even begin to imagine Roadback without Richie. He was a constant for all of us. He was always there. This truly seems impossible. I am so proud of him for focusing on helping others while keeping himself in remission from scleroderma. He was and forever will be an inspiration for us all no matter what health journeys we are on. We will miss you here, dear Richie.

    Flare fall of 2014...muscle aches, joint pains, fatigue, hair loss, rashes, etc.
    RA Factor 71 in Jan 2015 down to 25 as of September 2017
    DR4/DQ8 HLA...biotoxin illness
    IGG food allergy to wheat, egg, and dairy...probably all grains
    Vit. C&D, probiotics, milk thistle, turmeric, fish oil, methyl b 12, methyl folate, digestive enzymes, Candisol, Ubiquinol, berberine, chlorella, Moducare, LDN, monolaurin, Triphala, Patriot Greens, Paractin
    MTHFR compound heterozygous
    Igenex IGM positive Lyme, minoMWF

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