James Francis Rickes October 8, 1920 – February 12, 2022

Truly a special man who touched so many.  A man of grace and benevolence.  His life was one of radiant kindness and unending love. A kind and gentle soul whose love was unconditional.  He could always find the good in people and in every situation no matter what he was faced with.

Dad was born and raised in the Bronx, NY.  He grew up during the Depression.  At a very young age, he and his sister sold “The Saturday Evening Post” on roller skates to help his parents.  A few years later, at the age of 12 he got a job working for a travel agency in the summer time, delivering money and visas (which he carried in a shoebox) to the various Embassies in NYC for people who were going on the Grand Tour of Europe.  At that time he made the decision that someday he would travel.  He was a child with a vision who made a plan and followed through.

He attended De Witt Clinton High School where he excelled both in academics and sports, his favorite was swimming and was on the Swim Team there.  He was conscientious and worked hard.  Always helping to support his family.

When WWII broke out, he secured a job in the Brooklyn Navy Yard working as a Shipwright and carpenter.  He was always so proud to say that he helped build the Battleships Iowa and Missouri.  After the launching of the two ships he enlisted in the United States Navy.  He was sent to Sampson, NY for Bootcamp.  One Saturday night they were granted Liberty and bused into Elmira, NY.  It was there where he met my Mom who was a member of the USO.  My Mom thought he was a big show off because he was surrounded by a group of girls and was telling them a story about his “sailboat”.  What he didn’t tell them was that it was a toy boat that he played with in the lake in Central Park when he was a kid.  Despite that he pursued her and won her over.  For him, it was love at first sight, but for Mom it took some convincing!  After Bootcamp he was sent to Oklahoma and then to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, where he learned how to drive. His first driving experience was to drive a fuel tanker over ice to fill the airplanes with jet fuel.  While there he became a member of the “Sons of the Williwaw”.  Throughout his deployment there he and my Mom corresponded and he proposed to her in a letter and she accepted.  At the end of the war the troops decided that it would be fun to break the windows in all of the barracks throughout the Aleutians as part of their celebrations.  When the Navy officials found out that Dad had been a carpenter in the Navy Yard, they gave him the task of moving from island to island repairing the windows in all of the barracks.  In the meantime his mother was trying to find him because his Dad was dying.  Once my Dad got home he was able to spend a few hours with his Dad who passed away that very day.

Mom and Dad were married in April 1946.  They lived on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx and Dad worked at the Post Office.  In 1952 they decided to take a drive to the “country” and ended up in New Milford.  New homes were being built and Dad spoke with the builder and decided to put a down payment of $25.00 on a house on Luhmann Dr.  In 1953 they moved to New Milford.  Dad then proceeded to build a garage and then added a porch. He then added dormers onto the house completed the upstairs and then built an apartment in the basement.  He was very proud to announce that we were the only house on Luhmann Dr. that never flooded because of the way he finished the basement.  Later on he was the first to install central air conditioning too.

Dad eventually transferred to the New Milford Post Office.  During his days as a letter carrier he performed a heroic act by saving the life of a baby who was choking.  He has always been humble and never spoke about it unless I asked him.  Dad worked his way up the ranks, attended college and eventually became the Postal Supervisor in the New Milford Post Office.  Bering the entrepreneur that he was and supporting a wife and two daughters who were involved in music, Dad also had several businesses that he ran from home.  He also went to school to become a Travel Agent and was the Manager of Harvey’s Travel Agency in New Milford for many years.  He also found the time to teach Adult Ed classes at NMHS.

Dad was a loving and dedicated husband and father.  He worked diligently to support us.  He paid for piano, flute, guitar, mandolin, clarinet, viola and dance lessons.  He also bought us all of the instruments we needed.  He served as the President of the NMHS Music Boosters Association for several years, planning fundraisers, competitions and trips for the Music Department. He drove us to rehearsals and concerts along with my Mom.  They worked together and complemented each other.  I often look back and wonder how they found the time and energy to do it all.

Dad was also a true example of what it was to live a Christian life.  He was a founding member of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Paramus, NJ.  During the early 60’s he was a Sunday School teacher there.  He was also a founding member of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle Orthodox Church in New Port Richey, FL.  and served on the church council in both churches.

In 1979, Dad retired from the NM Post Office and decided to make a change and move to Florida. When we moved in 1980 Dad decided that he was going to tell my Mom how to run the house.  That did not last very long.  Mom told him that she was very capable of running the house and then told him to “Go get a job.”   Which he did.  He found a job managing a Travel Agency.  He worked managing agencies well into the 2000’s.  After my Mom passed away in 1999 Dad also became a volunteer at Hudson Middle School where he helped me with my Choral Program, working with my students and becoming an official “Roadie”.  The kids loved him and whenever I would run into any of them they would ask how he’s doing.  He had a positive impact on many of them. I can honestly say that Dad never missed any of my concerts or performances throughout my life.  He was so dedicated and devoted.

Dad was able to fulfill his childhood dream to travel.  That vision that he had as a little boy would follow him through his adult life.  Many people asked him what his secret to living life as long as he did was and his answer would be to always take a vacation and get away from the hum drum every day life.  He was thrifty and a great budgeter and always made sure that he saved enough money to take his family with him when he travelled.   In saying that we travelled to over 80 countries, some multiple times.  We went on over 75 cruises and took lots of train trips and road trips. I think his favorite trip without my Mom was when we took a 30 day Amtrak trip throughout the United States and Canada. Back in December Daddy asked me where I wanted to go next and I told him I wasn’t sure.  I wish there could have been just one more trip for him, but God had other plans.

Dad was always so supportive and encouraging.  He was there for me when I made the decision to retire early from teaching due to permanent nerve damage from a fall at school and contracting H1N1 and dealing with multiple bouts of Bronchitis.  It was a difficult decision but he was there for me. We both always missed the kids, the concerts and the music but knew it was what was best.  Now I am so glad that I was able to spend that time with him. We created many treasured memories and for that I will be eternally grateful.  He taught me many things throughout his lifetime, especially how to be gracious, thankful and kind.  He left a legacy of love and compassion.

His name is written with love on the hearts of those he has left behind.  A man so loved, he will never be forgotten.  You are now in the arms of our Loving Heavenly Father.  You have been reunited with your precious wife, Ceteria, your beautiful sister, Agnes and all of our loved ones who have gone on ahead of you. Fly high with the angels, Daddy.  May your memory be eternal…