Jerry and I weren't really friends. But there was a time-- back in 1955 or so-- that he had a lot on influence on me.
Maybe some of you will identify with my memories.
We were the first class to attend Northlawn School for both 7th and 8th grade. We felt pretty special about that.
Northlawn had all these great things like a genuine gym, a fully equipped shop, kitchen facilities for teaching home economics...all the things that seemed so advanced in the middle of the 20th century.
Jerry and I ended up taking several classes together. And I learned a lot from him. Jerry had something I had never understood. Jerry was cool. While most of us were still kids, Jerry seemed adult. He was a big guy. A mature guy. Leather jackets and jeans.
He moved kind of cool. He knew all about motorcycles and cars. He knew all the new music, like "Teen Angel" and "Party Doll" and "That'll be the Day." He wasn't embarassed to sing them, including all the appropriate gestures. Jerry's jeans fit right, and his shirts looked better on him because his muscles filled them out.
I knew that we were very different people, but I also knew Jerry was the genuine article-- a real product of our times.
I was happy when Jerry acknowledged me, and even brought me into his confidence. We weren't going to be pals, but he was willing to bring me into his circle of trust.
That was more than 50 years ago. I lost track of Jerry shortly after that-- we just didn't run into each other. But now I find that he passed away, and nobody has posted a memorial.
That shouldn't happen. People who are reading about our generation should know that--one time more than half and century ago-- there were people who defined "cool" for that time.
Jerry was one.
Hey, Jerry, I bet you wouldn't have guessed that I would write your tribute. But I'm happy to do it.
Jerry was our "Fonzi." He was cool before we really understood what it was. I remember that he seemed so much older than the rest of us. Rest in peace, Jerry. You will be missed at our reunion.
Robert Bengtson
Jerry and I weren't really friends. But there was a time-- back in 1955 or so-- that he had a lot on influence on me.
Maybe some of you will identify with my memories.
We were the first class to attend Northlawn School for both 7th and 8th grade. We felt pretty special about that.
Northlawn had all these great things like a genuine gym, a fully equipped shop, kitchen facilities for teaching home economics...all the things that seemed so advanced in the middle of the 20th century.
Jerry and I ended up taking several classes together. And I learned a lot from him. Jerry had something I had never understood. Jerry was cool. While most of us were still kids, Jerry seemed adult. He was a big guy. A mature guy. Leather jackets and jeans.
He moved kind of cool. He knew all about motorcycles and cars. He knew all the new music, like "Teen Angel" and "Party Doll" and "That'll be the Day." He wasn't embarassed to sing them, including all the appropriate gestures. Jerry's jeans fit right, and his shirts looked better on him because his muscles filled them out.
I knew that we were very different people, but I also knew Jerry was the genuine article-- a real product of our times.
I was happy when Jerry acknowledged me, and even brought me into his confidence. We weren't going to be pals, but he was willing to bring me into his circle of trust.
That was more than 50 years ago. I lost track of Jerry shortly after that-- we just didn't run into each other. But now I find that he passed away, and nobody has posted a memorial.
That shouldn't happen. People who are reading about our generation should know that--one time more than half and century ago-- there were people who defined "cool" for that time.
Jerry was one.
Hey, Jerry, I bet you wouldn't have guessed that I would write your tribute. But I'm happy to do it.
.
David Roffman
A beautiful tribute to Jerry Richards by Robert Bengston.
Isn't there a way to post Jerry's photograph from the 1961 yearbook? It might rekindle more memories of Jerry.
Karen Abbott (Latino)
Jerry was our "Fonzi." He was cool before we really understood what it was. I remember that he seemed so much older than the rest of us. Rest in peace, Jerry. You will be missed at our reunion.
Karen Latino