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In Memory

Richard Roush

 
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10/29/14 10:14 AM #1    

Judith Higgins (Varley)

Rich and I were friend all through high school.  We belonged to Faith United Protestant Church and sang in the choir togeher. 

Someone called me, I don't remember who, that Rich was at Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital in Chicago.  I was very pregnant with my second child but I had to see him.  I trundled down to see him and learned he was terminally ill with cancer.  I visited him as often as I could and then he went home, basically for the end.  He was engaged at the time and lived with his parents at the University of Chicago where his dad was a professor. 

Rich told me that shortly before he got sick, he had a car accident where he careened over a guard rail and turned his car over and over, but walked away unhurt.  He remarked how strange it was that he would die of cancer after surviving that wreck.

After Phillip was born, I took both kids to Rich's house to show Rich my big belly was gone, but look what I got instead.  Rich's mom bought Phillip a beautiful outfit which I gave to Phillip five years ago along with Rich's story. 

Rich went to Russia after university and played with the Russian National Symphony.  They wanted him to stay, but Rich chose to work for Radio Free Europe for a time.  When he returned to the states, he became a music teacher at a junior high shoo.

During my last visit with Rich and his family, he asked me to send him a recording of the Christmas music from our church.  He died shortly after that.

I will never forget Rich and will always hold him in my heart.

 


10/30/14 10:41 AM #2    

Virginia Meyer (Hopkirk)

This was a sweet remembrance of Rich, Judy.  We kidded each other in the mornings as he went into the Band room and I went into the Choir room to start our respective days.  He and I both sang in the Faith Church choir, with rehearsals on Thursday night.  He was a kind person and it is sad to know that he is gone.

 


10/30/14 12:26 PM #3    

Mark Leonas

I knew Rich and his older brother from Boy Scouts, initially, and thereafter in school.  I remember him as fun loving, musical, and easy to talk with.  I recall hearing of his passing from George Maeyama at the bookstore.  A sweet guy, taken too soon...


10/30/14 01:28 PM #4    

Margie Equihua

Judy, Thanks for your story about Rich.  I really didn't know him too well in school, but thanks to you, I now know more

about his life after REHS.  It's nice to know more about a person, besides how they passed away.

 

 


11/04/14 05:51 PM #5    

John Thompson

Rich and I used to walk home together after school. We shared stories of our classes, cross country and the future.  He was an amazing gentle guy with a subtle sense of humor.  I heard when he was at U of I he sold a film clip to "Laugh In."   His music was inspiring!  A telented person on many levels!

Once at his house Rich, his brother, his dad and I had a discussion of college biology [biochemsitry] - that was my first look at what academics was like on the inside and it stuck with me in detail over the years.  When I heard he was sick and then passed away - I remember the empty feeling it gave me.  I am not sure if that was because I lost a friend or because it showed me we were all vulnerable.  In any case, he had more to give and his loss is missed!


11/05/14 01:07 PM #6    

Veronica Painter (Garcia)

Thanks Judy for that information on Richard. I heard he passed away from cancer but wasn't aware of his accomplishments,  although I'm not surprised. He was very smart and talented.  I thought he lived close to me on Dogwood St., maybe someone can correct or verify that. I remember being so sad when I heard the news.

 


11/27/14 08:14 PM #7    

Charlie Zamzow

Rich was the best trombone player in the world.  I have many memories of playing in the jazz band with Rich.  It's always a shock when a young talented beautiful person is taken from us way too early.  My years in the band with Rich were some of the best years of my life.  I loved listening to him blast away on his solos.  He had no equal. 


11/28/14 06:29 AM #8    

Gerald Denk

The band community was blessed with a great talent. We all benefitted from our brief time with Rich. His future was bright and too bad wasn't able to be completed .  His solo's are now still being heard loud and clear by a different audience.


02/23/21 11:39 AM #9    

Judith Higgins (Varley)

I just thought of another interesting fact about Rich.  While at his home shortly before he passed, he was learning how to play the piano, the only instrument he didn't know how to play.  His loss was a great loss for all of us who knew and loved him.  


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