Obituary from the San Francisco Chronicle, October 9, 2005:
ALBERTS, Richard C. - On September 22, 2005 at 59 after losing a battle with lymphoma and colon cancer.
Richard was a fixture on the Bay Area entertainment scene for over four decades. While at Carlmont High School in Belmont, CA., Richard was part of the drama productions. While still at school, he had made a move into Lewis and Dare's Children's Theatre productions at the newly built Circle Star Theater and the Burlingame Hyatt Playhouse in the 60's. He was involved in the technical end of productions at the Circle Star and at the historical Cow Palace, a place he considered his 2nd home.
He had worked with many actors such as Don Rickles, Ernest Borgnine and Milton Berle. Musical acts such as Frank Sinatra and Wayne Newton knew Richard because of his dedication to production along with his very unique sense of humor. Richard still kept his hand into acting, playing an extra while also being a prop person on the movie Harold and Maude, which filmed throughout San Mateo County. Shipstead and Johnson's Ice Follies and Sesame Street Live were among a few shows that Richard had been on tour with as a technician. Having no real skating expertise, he was forced to become one of the ice clowns which he recalled as one of his fondest memories.
His last years were spent at the San Mateo County Fair, the Cow Palace, the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and the Kirkpatrick Dance Company. His presence there will be sorely missed.
Richard is survived by many friends and co-workers he considered family. On October 12th at 3 pm, there will be the placing of the urn in the family crypt at Olivet Memorial Park, 1601 Hillside Boulevard, Colma, CA.
(Note: Rich was born December 21, 1946 and was 58 when he passed away.)
Sorry to hear of his passing, we grew up on the same street about 4 houses apart. We built coasters together to go rolling down the street, his was the best he had genuine soap box derby wheels. Had a chemistry set and blew up a few things. Played football in his front yard. His dad would take us to Carlmont until we were old enought to drive. He had a place in the country for awhile east of Sacramento. He also worked at Arco Arena.
Wow. I knew Rich in school, did not really hang out in same crowd, but as my memory serves , he was a a nice kid , very smart obviously from his impressive history. I do remember he was involved in the schools drama dept, I was intested , jiust never tried out , went for auditions, but I I rememnber I had Mr. Deck for drama my senior year,and really enjoyed the experience. Anyway, very sad to hear.. Art Mitchell , Russ Landis , Tom Colvig , Jim Rhodes and myself all lived within like a 6 block radius of each other, I know there were more , I am forgetting. Russsell passed way in January of this year , in Greely , Colorado. how many will still be around for the 50th reunion?
I am saddened to hear of Richard's passing. I have thought of him through the years and remember how he could make me split a gut with his antics. We were in Jay Deck's drama class. Rich was a natural born actor and comedian. I was too shy to be on stage, so I ended up in the orchestra pit with the show band since it was easier for me to hide behind all the percussion instruments. A favorite memory is of Rich playing the part of Evil Eye Fleagle in Carlmont's production of Li'l Abner. I would execute a deafening roar on the gong to add effect to Rich's gesticulation while casting a mesmerizing spell on a particular victim. We would purposely fall out of sync with the visual and the sound effect to create a moment of hilarity for the audience. It worked every time. I tricked Rich with this unrehersed sham, but he ad libed the moment beautifully. So we continued to use the bit in every performance. He was brilliant. It is with a sad sweet farewell that I let Rich go. The world seems a bit more grim in his absence.
I'm glad someone else remembers Rich's sense of humor. It's the thing I remember most about him. He would come up with the funniest jokes, mostly about things that were happening in current events. His jokes were so inventive and sometimes you had to think twice about them because they were so complex. I remember to this day in our history class when the discussion of Abraham Lincoln's assasination came up. Whether he invented this joke, or got it from another comedian I don't know, but he stood up in class and said, "So Mr. Lincoln, other than that, how was the play?" I'll remember it till the day I pass on!
RIP Rich I well aways remember you and I and Bob Klawmen in Mr.Decks Stagecraft class building the sets for Lit L Abner.What a kick it was as well as Circle Star,however as I Recall you followed Dave Riley and I there.
Richard was the star of the Carlmont Drama Department! Off the stage he was shy but once on stage he brought characters to life! Richard would play the leading parts tn many of the best dramatic presentations wheather serious or musicals! There was no doubt that Richard had found his home on stage and would never leave!
Frederick Kemmerle
Obituary from the San Francisco Chronicle, October 9, 2005:
ALBERTS, Richard C. - On September 22, 2005 at 59 after losing a battle with lymphoma and colon cancer.
Richard was a fixture on the Bay Area entertainment scene for over four decades. While at Carlmont High School in Belmont, CA., Richard was part of the drama productions. While still at school, he had made a move into Lewis and Dare's Children's Theatre productions at the newly built Circle Star Theater and the Burlingame Hyatt Playhouse in the 60's. He was involved in the technical end of productions at the Circle Star and at the historical Cow Palace, a place he considered his 2nd home.
He had worked with many actors such as Don Rickles, Ernest Borgnine and Milton Berle. Musical acts such as Frank Sinatra and Wayne Newton knew Richard because of his dedication to production along with his very unique sense of humor. Richard still kept his hand into acting, playing an extra while also being a prop person on the movie Harold and Maude, which filmed throughout San Mateo County. Shipstead and Johnson's Ice Follies and Sesame Street Live were among a few shows that Richard had been on tour with as a technician. Having no real skating expertise, he was forced to become one of the ice clowns which he recalled as one of his fondest memories.
His last years were spent at the San Mateo County Fair, the Cow Palace, the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and the Kirkpatrick Dance Company. His presence there will be sorely missed.
Richard is survived by many friends and co-workers he considered family. On October 12th at 3 pm, there will be the placing of the urn in the family crypt at Olivet Memorial Park, 1601 Hillside Boulevard, Colma, CA.
(Note: Rich was born December 21, 1946 and was 58 when he passed away.)
Art Mitchell
Sorry to hear of his passing, we grew up on the same street about 4 houses apart. We built coasters together to go rolling down the street, his was the best he had genuine soap box derby wheels. Had a chemistry set and blew up a few things. Played football in his front yard. His dad would take us to Carlmont until we were old enought to drive. He had a place in the country for awhile east of Sacramento. He also worked at Arco Arena.
Glen Radford
Wow. I knew Rich in school, did not really hang out in same crowd, but as my memory serves , he was a a nice kid , very smart obviously from his impressive history. I do remember he was involved in the schools drama dept, I was intested , jiust never tried out , went for auditions, but I I rememnber I had Mr. Deck for drama my senior year,and really enjoyed the experience. Anyway, very sad to hear.. Art Mitchell , Russ Landis , Tom Colvig , Jim Rhodes and myself all lived within like a 6 block radius of each other, I know there were more , I am forgetting. Russsell passed way in January of this year , in Greely , Colorado. how many will still be around for the 50th reunion?
Vincent Silvera
I am saddened to hear of Richard's passing. I have thought of him through the years and remember how he could make me split a gut with his antics. We were in Jay Deck's drama class. Rich was a natural born actor and comedian. I was too shy to be on stage, so I ended up in the orchestra pit with the show band since it was easier for me to hide behind all the percussion instruments. A favorite memory is of Rich playing the part of Evil Eye Fleagle in Carlmont's production of Li'l Abner. I would execute a deafening roar on the gong to add effect to Rich's gesticulation while casting a mesmerizing spell on a particular victim. We would purposely fall out of sync with the visual and the sound effect to create a moment of hilarity for the audience. It worked every time. I tricked Rich with this unrehersed sham, but he ad libed the moment beautifully. So we continued to use the bit in every performance. He was brilliant. It is with a sad sweet farewell that I let Rich go. The world seems a bit more grim in his absence.
Bill Roth
I'm glad someone else remembers Rich's sense of humor. It's the thing I remember most about him. He would come up with the funniest jokes, mostly about things that were happening in current events. His jokes were so inventive and sometimes you had to think twice about them because they were so complex. I remember to this day in our history class when the discussion of Abraham Lincoln's assasination came up. Whether he invented this joke, or got it from another comedian I don't know, but he stood up in class and said, "So Mr. Lincoln, other than that, how was the play?" I'll remember it till the day I pass on!
Daniel Hulegaard
RIP Rich I well aways remember you and I and Bob Klawmen in Mr.Decks Stagecraft class building the sets for Lit L Abner.What a kick it was as well as Circle Star,however as I Recall you followed Dave Riley and I there.
Gary Cornell
Richard was the star of the Carlmont Drama Department! Off the stage he was shy but once on stage he brought characters to life! Richard would play the leading parts tn many of the best dramatic presentations wheather serious or musicals! There was no doubt that Richard had found his home on stage and would never leave!