August 8, 2014 — LOVING THOUGHTS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, RICHARD
Richard Gilbert Jenkins was born August 8, 1945, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. His parents, Muriel and Bill Jenkins, moved their family “across the bridge” to Derby Line, Vermont, in 1957. Richard was 12, his sister Nancy, 11, their brother Wayne, 9. Later that year they moved to River Forest, Illinois.
I met Richard during our junior year, at a party at the home of my friend Nancy Petersen. He was so cute I think I fell in love with him immediately -- his voice, the twinkle in his eye, his charming smile. We went to the Sadie Hawkins Day dance soon after, and had a sweet romance for the next few years that meant the world to me. I cherish my memories of him and his family.
As soon as the Beatles burst on the scene, in our senior year, Richard let his hair grow long and knew all their songs. He loved them. I mention this because Paul McCartney performed his "Out There" concert here in Missoula, where I live, just a few days ago, on August 5th, at the University of Montana football stadium, to a crowd of more than 25,000 people. It was fabulous! Sir Paul puts on a great show, and I thought of Richard, of course, when they played a few of the songs from those days of long ago: "I Saw Her Standing There" (1963); "All My Loving" (1963); "Eight Days A Week" (1964); "And I Love Her" (1964).
Richard died in a car wreck on March 16, 1968. He was buried on March 19 at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. He was on his way home to his family in Oak Park when in the early hours he encountered in fog a car that had stopped to back up on the freeeway because it had missed its exit. And that was that. An event of that order changes lives forever. It did mine. I lost belief in the only-one-life-time theory of heaven and earth.
— Celeste River
P.S. I tried to post a few pictures of Richard on this "In Memory" page, but it didn't work, they disappeared. So I'm going to try to post them on my "classmates" page; I'm not sure it will work, but I'll try ...
Thank you for sharing your photos, experiences and memories of Richard Jenkins who meant so much to you. I'm saddend to learn he passed on at such a young age from such a freak accident. Your posting is a lovely tribute to his memory.
Celeste, thank you for sharing your memories. We had happy times in those days but that accident made us grow up. I remember you, Richard and the old gang so well.
Celeste River
August 8, 2014 — LOVING THOUGHTS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, RICHARD
Richard Gilbert Jenkins was born August 8, 1945, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. His parents, Muriel and Bill Jenkins, moved their family “across the bridge” to Derby Line, Vermont, in 1957. Richard was 12, his sister Nancy, 11, their brother Wayne, 9. Later that year they moved to River Forest, Illinois.
I met Richard during our junior year, at a party at the home of my friend Nancy Petersen. He was so cute I think I fell in love with him immediately -- his voice, the twinkle in his eye, his charming smile. We went to the Sadie Hawkins Day dance soon after, and had a sweet romance for the next few years that meant the world to me. I cherish my memories of him and his family.
As soon as the Beatles burst on the scene, in our senior year, Richard let his hair grow long and knew all their songs. He loved them. I mention this because Paul McCartney performed his "Out There" concert here in Missoula, where I live, just a few days ago, on August 5th, at the University of Montana football stadium, to a crowd of more than 25,000 people. It was fabulous! Sir Paul puts on a great show, and I thought of Richard, of course, when they played a few of the songs from those days of long ago: "I Saw Her Standing There" (1963); "All My Loving" (1963); "Eight Days A Week" (1964); "And I Love Her" (1964).
Richard died in a car wreck on March 16, 1968. He was buried on March 19 at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. He was on his way home to his family in Oak Park when in the early hours he encountered in fog a car that had stopped to back up on the freeeway because it had missed its exit. And that was that. An event of that order changes lives forever. It did mine. I lost belief in the only-one-life-time theory of heaven and earth.
— Celeste River
P.S. I tried to post a few pictures of Richard on this "In Memory" page, but it didn't work, they disappeared. So I'm going to try to post them on my "classmates" page; I'm not sure it will work, but I'll try ...
Ellen Engelhardt (Krikstone)
Celeste,
Thank you for sharing your photos, experiences and memories of Richard Jenkins who meant so much to you. I'm saddend to learn he passed on at such a young age from such a freak accident. Your posting is a lovely tribute to his memory.
See you at the reunion I hope.
Regards, Ellen Engelhard Krikstone
Marilyn McCollum (Slattery)
Celeste, thank you for sharing your memories. We had happy times in those days but that accident made us grow up. I remember you, Richard and the old gang so well.
Best regards,
Marilyn McCollum Slattery