Richard John Vass

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 Ric was born on July 26, 1949 and passed away on February 11, 2014. BS – Management/Marketing Minor: Spanish Purdue University W.Lafayette, IN MBA – Marketing Indiana University Bloomington, IN Ric worked for Procter & Gamble in sales/management positions from 1975 - 2004. Ric is survived by his wife Roxann, his mother, Lilian Vass and his brother, Robert (Bob) Vass. He was also loved and will be missed by his stepchildren and their spouses and his grandchildren - Aaron and Sandra Cuningham and their children John Eric Deaton, Rachel Deaton, Kieran Cunningham and Callum Cunningham and by Adrienne and Philippe McComber and their children Élodie McComber and Julien McComber. Ric and Roxann were very active in the The International Cat Association and enjoyed showing their prize Ragdolls. Ric kept in touch with many friends from Proctor and Gamble and friends from his college days at Purdue and Indiana University. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching sports and talking about what was happening with his mother, Lilian, who is also an avid sports fan. Ric enjoyed swimming in the pool and ocean and his travels always included some number of days at the beach. From his wife, Roxann: Ric and I met When I moved to San Diego. Ric was already retired and I was still working as a contractor for Hewlett-Packard Company. We were meeting for drinks and had so much fun we stayed for dinner. Then we went for a walk at Carlsbad Beach. We often laughed at how neither of us put the classic "walks on the beach" in our profiles and yet, we ended up walking on the beach. During that first date, Ric suggested that we should get married because we were having so much fun. I agreed. We were married on Ship Wreck Beach in Kauai and have had over six wonderful, loving, fun filled years together. Our marriage left friends and families speechless as Ric had never been married and I had been divorced for over 25 years. Still, we dearly loved each other proving that you never know what wonderful thing might be waiting to happen. Ric and I made each other laugh. We loved to talk about politics. We bred and showed Ragdoll cats, a hobby we both loved (although every so often Ric said he thought his part was being the litter box boy). We enjoyed traveling and went back to Hawaii a number of times as well as vacationing in Belize. I will continue to share with you pieces of our story. For those of you that only know Ric and I as a couple, please share any story you have or anything you would like to share. Ric also had many stories before I met him. I hope that many of you will share your stories about pre-marriage Ric. We did not talk a lot about the past and I am hoping to hear stories about Ric before we met. He was a loyal Purdue fan - I know that. He also had many friend at Proctor and Gamble where he worked for many years. Thank you to our families who have been so loving and supportive and thank you to all our friends that have been such an important part of our lives. I hope that in sharing stories and reading other's stories we can all remember Ric and truly celebrate his life. Warmly, Roxann Thursday, February 13, 2014 Ric's brother Bob, Aaron and Sandra, and I just returned from a small service to say good-bye to Ric's body. Chaplin Steve played Let It Be by the Beatles on his guitar, read Psalm 23, and said a prayer. I had held Ric's hand as we watched the Beatle special on TV on Sunday night and I sang along with the Let It Be song. Ric was tired and was mostly sleeping as he didn't even give me "you-are-so-off-tune look" that he would when I was singing along while we were riding in the car. Chaplin Steve said that this was a new song that he was going to add to his songs he sang at services and each time he sang that song, he would think about Ric. Just another example of how Ric's spirit will live on in so many ways. At a later time, we will be having a family celebration of Ric's life where we will spread Ric's ashes in the ocean near Carlsbad Beach. Thursday afternoon, February 13, 2014 A DOZEN LONG STEM RED ROSES AND A BOX OF CHOCOLATE, Today, I received roses and chocolates from RIC! Last Saturday he asked me to wheel him down to his office because he wanted to pay bills. He was there about 3 minutes and then he called for me to come back with the wheelchair and get him, I noticed that the stack of bills had not moved but I thought maybe he was checking sport scores or something and then got tired. Nope. He was ordering roses and chocolate for me for VALENTINES DAY. This says all there is to say about how much we loved each other - as weak as he was, he still ordered roses and candy for me for Valentines day. I miss him so much... Friday, February 14, 2014 Valentine's Day Not only did Ric send me flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day but also 3 beautiful baby kittens from BonBon arrived this morning. I did not want to breed any cats as I knew Ric and I would be so busy just working on getting treatment for Ric but Ric really wanted to put BonBon with Rocky and so he picked her up and put her in with him. Well, this morning BonBon delivered her 3 sweet kittens. I think they are another wonderful gift from Ric. I will keep one little girl from BonBon. I have decided to name her Creekcats Valentina Rose. Thank you Ric for this special gift. March 2014 A special thank you to the many of you who have added tributes to this site, who have sent cards, those who sent flowers, planted trees and sent Mass Cards. I am very touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness. April 14, 2014 Today, Jake, our dog, passed away. Jake and I got up this morning and went to the kitchen where he got his morning treat of a hot dog. Ric used to take Jake to 7 - 11 for a hot dog every morning and when Ric passed away, I just gave him his morning hot dog while I was fixing my breakfast. After breakfast, I pointed out the ducks that have been eyeing our pool as a good place to raise a family. Jake did his job of chasing the ducks and then came back in. I worked on bills, and taxes and Jake snoozed beside me. At lunch, Jakie licked my egg salad bowl, a yummy treat, and then walked over to the family room where I was watching a recorded show. He was staggering and holding himself steady by leaning against the sofa. I grabbed him and held him around the middle to steady him. I held him for a minute or so, reassuring him and coaxing him to lie down. He finally went down but front legs first. I ran outside and found a worker to help me carry him to the car. He was heavy and it was a struggle but we got him in the car an I rushed him to the vet. It was no more than 15 minutes since he laid down but he was gone. He had a wonderful happy life right up to the end. We both loved Jakie. When Ric was dying, I asked him if he would be there to care for Jake when Jake crossed the Rainbow Bridge - Ric gave a little nod - I know he was saying yes. I am glad they are together. May 12, 2014 So many first - the first anniversary without Ric. My heart is broken. July 26, 2014 Ric's birthday. Rachel and I attended the TICA SouthWest Regional where our cat, Ozzie, received a number of awards. Rachel and I shared a table with a number of our cat friends and before dinner, we raised our glasses in a toast to Ric. He actually did not like going to those banquets but he was very proud of our cats and very active in showing them and deciding on where we were going with our breeding program. Everyone at that table had a chance to remember a little story or something about Ric. It was very nice. I can not believe he did not live to see 65. It is so unfair, September 2, 2014 My 65th birthday. I can not celebrate. I have written my children and friend to ask that they just ignore the day. Maybe someday I can celebrate but today I can not.

Richard John Vass

July 26, 1949 - February 11, 2014