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In Your Face - On Your SideLast night (April 16th) friends of Rick Hubbard gathered in the darkened sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto to remember the man of 1,000 invitations. Rick was often the first person to say hello to newcomers and inevitably the first to invite them to lunch. The amazing thing about Rick's invitations was that no matter how many times one might say no, Rick always extended the invitation again and again so that there was no doubt you were truly welcome at Rick's table. Such is often the way it is with God, who invites us over and over and over again to come to God's table, and no matter how many times we say no, God is still there. And when we do say yes, oh how thankful we are! The gentlest of souls, Rick was always there not just to invite you to sip a cup of coffee with him, but also there to help you see yourself as he saw you, holding up a mirror that sometimes caused discomfort and concern. Some of those who gathered last night reflected on how Rick had the quiet strength to honestly tell you how he felt, even when he knew it might be painful for you to hear. Yet there was no doubt that his words came with absolute love, respect, and warmth. Rick was the embodiment of Parish Life, bringing us to picnics, haunted houses, cleanup days, retreats, and Pooh parties. Every time I smell charcoal burning in a BBQ, I'll think of Rick, spatula in hand! Rick was a fighter for social, environmental and economic justice. Rick saw the underdog and oppressed and stood by their sides. Rick also easily spotted anyone in his midst who was simply hurting, his arms automatically reaching out to apply healing touch. A touching moment remembered last night, was a phone message left on an answering machine by Rick, to a family with two children, where Rick asked "Can the kids come out and play?" After we've all cried out a few more tears, Rick, we'll try to get out there and play, and we'll remember the kindest, gentlest, man you were, sometimes in a clown suit, we'll shed another tear and then we'll smile. We love you Rick and we will miss you! Dave Roghair wrote: One of the most recent conversations I had with Rick was a phone call--he was inviting me on one of his famous movie outings. We talked for a few minutes and hung up, then Rick called me back about two minutes later. He asked if I was OK, because it sounded like something was bothering me. In hindsight, calling me back was a really simple gesture, but I don't know a lot of people who would do that for their friends. For me, it's a perfect example of what a caring person Rick was. He was a good friend to me, and I miss him. Sarah Pressly wrote: I remember our times when he, Karen W. and I were the only ones on Parish Life, planning and laughing and working as efficiently as we could to keep our meetings short...and succeeding because of their (not my!) organization. He was a gentle soul, and in many ways was the quintessential First Pres'er for me. Say hi to the First Pres'ers for us, friend. Ted and Cathy Dolton wrote: We met, at Tricia Clappison's, when you had never entered this church. You were interested in what this church was all about. And you did come aboard, and began to ingratiate yourself into the life of the church. Later in the men's group you were a big contributor. When John Lersch and Janet Riley were ordained (a couple in seminary who were married here in the early '90's) separately in New Mexico, you attended Janet's ordination. You were so excited about being there that you persuaded Libby Plowman and me, Ted, to be at John's ordination there, about a month later -- a wonderful experience. Thanks, Rick for your enthusiasm and invitation. And that wasn't the only invitation. There were others: lunches;
church picnics..... Finally we saw you outside a movie earlier
this year. And, typical of only Rick, later there was another
invitation --- to go to the movies. Thanks, Rick, for your generosity,
openness and those many invitations, which we will not forget.
You are missed. Paul Burks (Santa Rosa California) wrote: Yes, I enjoyed
a few of those after-church lunches with Rick and others. But
I remember Rick best in our shared work for four years on the
All Church Retreat. Rick was right at the heart of the planning
and the retreat itself. He was an organizer. He was a detail man,
using computer spreadsheets. At times we over-rode his proposals
or technique, but everyone valued his ideas, his enthusiasm, his
leadership, and most of all his friendship. I Jean Barker (Santa Rosa California) wrote: Rick, I am missing you so much even though I have been away from lst Pres. now for nearly two years. Your warmth, love and honesty were always there, as others have testified to. I will attend the All Church Retreat this year and there will be a big hole because your physical presence will not be there. I know though, that you, in spirit will be there. Surely tears will flow as we remember your loving gifts. Thanks be to God for your life in Earth! Laura Pierce wrote: My joys of Rick are so many...a painted clown face at Halloween...
...cheerful promoter of picnics, an architect, and someone with a willingness to share his emotional life. He was one of the first people to come up and want to know who I was when I joined the Church. For me Rick traversed both Church life and work. One of the wonderful things was sharing our connection when we bumped into each other (which was more often than we might have thought) at Sun. Even when he was struggling with hard choices, he always wanted to know, really know, how I was doing. I will miss him very much. Jeff Grinnell wrote: I will always be thankful for Rick Hubbard's presence in my life for the kindness and thoughtfulness he showed toward my late wife, Kris, during the five years of her terminal illness. Rick-- along with Marjorie Visher, Lee [last name escapes me right now], Cynthia Hanson, Sandra Hopkins, and others--arranged to spend a number of weekend evenings with us when Kris was homebound. I know Kris really appreciated having their cheerful company. Another reason I will always be thankful for Rick was that he
took time out of his full schedule to be one of the prime organizers
for all six of the Glory and the Gift of Hope Gospel benefit concerts.
Indeed, those concerts would never have happened without Rick's
support. I knew I could count on Rick's strong organizational
skills to help me plan those rather complicated events down to
the smallest detail--and, happily, I will also remember the enthusiasm
and joy which he found in the fellowship and musical performances
on those evenings. Lynda Alexander wrote: Rick showed us how to live as week by week he invited us to his table. And, now that he's gone, I'm so glad he continued asking, that we heard and joined him and others. What a blessing to have known such a person who lived his life in a completely unselfish way. Rick was a true support system for me while I was at First Pres, we became great buddies and shared many meals, stories, good times and a few bad. I'm so grateful I knew him. May his soul rest in peace. May his spirit stay in our hearts, keeping us on the path he showed us how to walk. May he stay busy with us, who are in such grievous need of him. John Bayer wrote: I, like Paul Burk, worked with Rick for 5 years on the All Church Retreat committee and co-chaired it for 2 years with him. I agree with Paul. Rick was a tremendous organizer and detail man, and as a result we had some very smooth-running retreats. But I remember Rick mostly for our wonderful times at Taize. He often would call people and get them to go to Taize. So when Tish and I would go, we would expect to see him there, at least after the service, when we’d go out and have a bite to eat at the Peninsula Creamery. Part of the Taize tradition is an invitation to come to a small Hispanic cross that is laid on the floor at the front of the dimly lit sanctuary, and for the next 40 or 50 minutes there is a very long line of people filing to the cross amidst the music and chanting. So many times as I slowly made my way in the line I would make out Rick’s silhouette on his way from the cross back to his seat. We, invariably, would stop and embrace; I would feel his genuine love and caring, and it was very special and uplifting. When we go next time, I’ll look for you Rick, and I’ll see you in the outlines of a hundred people, and I’ll embrace you again. Yes, I will miss you, but I’m wearing a smile, cause I have this picture of you asking the angels out for lunch. Holly Tabor wrote: I have an email in my inbox from Rick from just a few weeks ago and I can’t bring myself to file it because I can’t quite accept that he is gone, far too soon. Earlier in the month he was organizing one of his wonderful work days at First Pres, and he had an incredible turnout, I think almost fifty people. Never have fifty people had such a good time cleaning windows. He had such a kindness about him, and a real vision of where our community could go and what he could do to make it happen. I will truly miss him as a person, and I know we will all miss hearing more about his First Pres vision for the future. I know that I am going to try to remember him by talking to others with kindness, open-heartedness, and being open to worlds of possibilities. Jennifer Sweeney wrote: Everything that I've read about
Rick on the web site is absolutely true. He was the most compassionate
and respectful person I've ever met. Rick had a way of making
me believe in the best aspects of myself. His favorite movie was
called "1,000 Clowns" and whenever I achieved something
I never thought possible, he'd refer to the movie-the theme being
that we are all born with 1,000 gifts that we need to bring forth.
The mirror he continued to raise Muhammed Amin wrote: I knew Rick briefly, but I can say without hesitation that he was the most easy-going and warming guy I have ever met. This guy was an embodiment of three important features of a man, pycho motive, affective character and that of cognitive tendency. The combination of three made him discern things as it unfold. May his soul rest in perfect peace-amen! Jon Griffith wrote: I originally met Rick ten or eleven
years ago at the Sunday Morning Men’s group. We remained
friends as Cailar and I have attended First Presbyterian over
the years. The invitations never ceased, movies, lunches after
service and recently listening to his brother Dana play guitar
at the Fault Line in Santa Clara. Last fall I was working long
hours at my company and on two Friday nights I enjoyed surprising
Rick as I walked in. What a gracious way Rick had of greeting
me and making me feel appreciated. Sometimes it was just small
talk, though recently we talked of the shared aspects of our spiritual
journeys. He listened without judgment of my doubts since the
age of seven concerning vicarious atonement. Rick and I planned
a walk at Shoreline Park that never seemed to materialize. I now
am so sorry that it didn’t.
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