Peter Berman

Friends and classmates -- 

It has been 10 years since we lost Rickey to a long battle with cancer. Rickey and I came together to Oberlin after starting our friendship in fifth grade as PS 6 in Manhatten. When I moved to Manhatten that summer with my mom and joined Mrs. Dreeben's fifth grade class, she sat me next to Rickey and gave him instructions to "take care of me". We did that for each other for the next 50 years, being together for high school, Oberlin, and many many adventures after that. I marked the tenth year of losing him with a lovely call with the love of his life -- Robin -- Obie '72 -- and his children Hillary and Lily and my wife Jenny. And what better to remember him by than the Robert Frost poem "Happiness Makes Up in Height for What it Lacks in Length" (check it out). He loved Robert Frost. Rickey we will miss you this weeked....

Robert Coppersmith

^{mention elsewhere of Malonek's Chevy immediately brings to mind Rickey Black's slant 6 Dodge Dart,!"Amamus" which transported some of us to the Airport, or to the diner, amongst other destinations.}

Nancy Bick (Clark)

I remember Rickey and Robin talking about the tragic bombing in Oklahoma City at our 25th reunion in 1998. They were near "ground zero." I remember Rickey's smile and always-positive attitude.