Rick McKinnon Eulogy

August 3rd, 2019
 

Thessalonaians 4:13-18 – “We grieve with hope”

"For all these reasons, we'll miss Rick, but as the bible says in Thessalonians, "though we grieve, we don't grieve as those without hope" - because Christians trust in the resurrection of Jesus and our eternal life in him. And I know Rick believed that."  

**

Good morning. 

My name is Jeff Spears, and I’m honored today to remember my friend, Rick McKinnon. 

Our history goes back over 40 years, when my family moved next door to the McKinnons on Bunker Hill Drive in Middletown, NJ, in 1978. 

What started as a neighborly relationship turned into a life-long family bond that strengthened with every passing year. We went on camping trips to Turkey Swamp with the Gourmet Group, would sled from the highest point of the McKinnon’s driveway to the lowest point of “The Pit” in one epic run, and played kick the can on summer nights. 

And my brother, Brian, and I relished the nights Damon and Kirsten came over to babysit for us. 

The McKinnons and the Spears often spent Thanksgiving weekends together. It was a tradition we stuck to as our highflier dads relocated us around the country. It didn’t matter that we were no longer next-door neighbors. We visited each other in Atlanta, Lafayette, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Orlando – we even kept the tradition alive by taking Thanksgiving international when Brian and (my sister in law) Meg lived in Costa Rica. 

Early on, Rick coined these nicknames for my brother and me – Smurf and Boomer. And it never failed — just as Thanksgiving dinner was getting underway Rick would turn to my brother and say, “Smurf, isn’t this the BEST Thanksgiving meal you’ve ever had?” But it wasn’t just because it was Thanksgiving, Rick’s gratitude for everything he had – right down to a home-cooked feast – ran deep. One of many qualities we loved about him.  

Through the years, we had plenty of family highlights, but in 2000, my family was rocked when my dad had a sudden heart attack and passed away. Rick and Sally were on vacation — out of the country — yet they scrambled to Orlando to console my mom, Sharon, Brian and me. Such dedicated, true friends. I am forever touched by how they consoled my mom and if anything, only increased the time they spent together — even keeping the Thanksgiving tradition alive when most may have moved on. 

For me, it was the week of my father’s service when Rick really changed my life.

During a 10-minute ride to pick up groceries, he said, “Boomer, you’ve got to turn your game up a notch. You’ll need to look after your mom but take care of yourself, so she doesn’t have to.” I love this about Rick: he would tell you like it is, with conviction, in a few very well-chosen words. Now, I’ll pay it forward at some point, but he inspired me. It’s genuinely who he was, and I know he inspired a lot of us here.  

That conversation was just the beginning - over the last 19 years, Rick and Sally have been family. 
-      They were the only non-relatives at my wedding in Santa Monica
-      They visited Brian’s family in Atlanta and hosted them here at their place on Brown’s lake last summer
-      And poor Rick would take not just Sally, but my mom along too, when they traveled as a trio to fun places like Ireland and– God Bless Him— on a quilting cruise 

And as Rick and Sally winters  in “Paradise” (what Rick called Palm Desert), I would drive from LA to join them for an impromptu weekend of dinner, pomegranate martinis, and golf. By the way, a round of golf with Rick is literally one of my favorite things in the world. The competition, the bonding, and the SPORTSMANSHIP meant so much to me. 

It’s impossible to detail all of Rick’s awesome qualities. In fact, if Rick was here, his humility wouldn’t allow us to “showboat” how great he was – but I’d like to highlight some my brother and I have spoken about over the last month.  

First - Rick was loved, respected, and admired by all. 

Rick had unconditional love for his family. 

His optimism, kindness, and integrity were second to none. 

He was the classiest guy I have ever known. 

 He had discipline and work ethic in spades  

Ø  Last week Brian laughed about how good Rick was at whatever he did!  His profession, golf, even picking up a BB and picking a bumble bee off a railroad tie. 

Ø  I think part of that was God-given talent, but a larger part was attitude and smarts

We admired his creativity and the lengths he’d go to in putting together elaborate scavenger hunts for his grandchildren. His commitment to editing family holiday videos (set to just the right soundtrack) 

AND… his ability to balance life by kicking his feet up for TV and a pack of Twizzlers. 

Finally – Rick was selfless, he ALWAYS put others first. 

The last time I saw Rick was just in March. I was about to embark on a road trip to move my family from CA to CO. Rick and I ate lunch and he asked me every detail about the new job, where my daughter would go to school, the house we bought – EVERY detail with such excitement and support. 

Rick meant so much to us all here today – and when you look at all the amazing photos Heather’s been posting on Caring Bridge, you see Rick’s spirit and such fun captured in those pictures. It is so tangible and real. He had a such a full, accomplished life. 

So Rick, you’re right – those were the BEST Thanksgiving meals we’d ever had. Hands down. 

True, the zest for life that you brought to everyone in this room will forever be missed, but the best way to honor you is to keep you in our hearts and embody your spirt.  And may we “do the right thing when nobody’s looking” as you would have. 

You were a beauty, and I know as Sally, Damon, Kirsten, Heather – and your amazing grandchildren you held in such high, heartfelt regard – go through life, they will experience the out-of-the-blue, coincidental positive outcomes that you undoubtedly  have had a hand in.

In closing, one of our favorite rituals after a round of golf with Rick was a Rose’s Lime Juice mixed in an ice-cold Heineken/Corona. A tradition to replay both our majestic, and “hacking dog,” golf shots. 

Brian and I will always have this pairing in our houses, and we’ll raise a toast often, to our dear friend, Rick McKinnon. 

God Bless.