My dear uncle Rick passed away this week. He is Fred’s younger brother.

Here is his obituary: 

ALLEN – RICHARD L. (RICK) died 7/3/12, after he bravely faced metastasized lung cancer, by, as he put it, “staying grounded in reality.” Born 12/5/39 in Topeka and raised in Wichita, KS, Rick graduated from Wichita State University with a BA in German, minors in French and English. He served in the Air Force as a translator and linguist before launching into a career of copywriting and creative direction. Rick won a CLIO and nearly 100 other awards for his work as a Creative Director from NYC to LA and Albuquerque. Besides his creative career, he was a life-long learner and creative force who consistently entertained himself and others with his limerick writing, wordsmithing, painting and drawing, pet portraiture, photography, filmmaking, acting in plays, playing of several musical instruments, consistent wit and banter, and study of mathematics and the sciences. He said he had hoped he would “live long enough to see President Obama re-elected” and he wanted those words in his obituary, so here they are. His enthusiasm for life, followed by his fascination with nature and the human mind, was always accompanied by his sense of humor and the time he enjoyed spending with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Harriet Rayman Allen; daughter Adabel Allen and her husband Topher House of Albuquerque; his brother Fred Allen and sister-in-law Kathy; nephew Don Allen and niece Deirdre (Jack) Allen-Timmons of Seattle, and nephew Sam Allen of Albuquerque. He is also survived by mother-in-law Phyllis Rayman; brother- and sister-in-law Bruce and Sue Rayman; and nephews Dan (Angela) Rayman and Erik Rayman, all from Illinois. A celebration of his life will take place at a “home away from home” the Albuquerque Press Club, to be scheduled. In lieu of flowers, Harriet and Adabel are asking that donations be made to some of the causes close to Rick’s heart: Obama Re-Election Campaign, KUNM, or the Society for Science & the Public. 

Peace and love Rick. Peace and love.