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On a warm spring day in 2009 I took my son to Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, PA. Upon emerging from the cave my cell phone rang and on the other end was Rick Alcorn, a retired geologist from the Philadelphia area. Rick was standing in front of a fountain we had recently installed at Carrabba’s Italian Grille on the Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg. He was hoping to visit the gallery and have a first hand look at our operation. Rick had seen our fountain the day before, but didn’t realize that it was created just down the street. Having returned for a second look, he asked some questions and learned how close our shop was. So I left Indian Echo Caverns excited to meet this enthusiastic guy on the other end of the phone. After dropping my boy off at home I headed over to the gallery, and not long after that Rick came through the doors.
Rick was excited to see and handle the rock. He was familiar with the geologic origins of columnar igneous rock. We talked at length about the science of the natural rock and the art of what we are doing with it, and it was clear that I had found a kindred spirit and a new friend. I had recently been to the quarry in Washington State, where we took dozens of pictures. Not knowing Rick’s schedule, I asked if he had time to check out the pictures on my computer. He grinned and replied that he had nothing but time and was eager to see the pictures! It turns out Rick was just passing the afternoon waiting for his wife, Gloria, to wrap up her work day at the Navy Depot where she was doing some consulting. She was not fond of the long commute, and Rick was her willing chauffeur. On days Gloria worked in Mechanicsburg, Rick passed the time exploring the area, golfing and basically doing whatever he pleased. We sat at a little table in the corner of the workshop and looked at pictures from the quarry and talked for at least an hour, maybe two, before it was time for Rick to leave and pick up Gloria. He expressed genuine interest in purchasing a fountain and I knew he meant it. He also asked a lot of questions about our business, how we market, what our challenges are, what our goals are… The time passed quickly, and before he left I was energized like I had not been for a long time! Sure, it gets me excited when someone shows interest in purchasing a fountain. But the excitement I felt went beyond that. He was obviously a successful and intelligent guy who went out of his way to track me down and meet me. His immediate reaction to what he found inside the gallery doors was very gratifying, and his feedback about the viability of our brand new business was encouraging to say the least. Wise and seasoned, he had certain believability about him. I have a feeling I am not the first person he had this effect on. I had asked Rick quite a few questions about his life and career both as geologist and business entrepreneur, about how he likes retirement, etc. Just before he left I told him I thought he would make a great part time Igneous Rock Gallery commission salesman, and his response was just what I hoped for! I walked him to his car and we were already planning our next meeting. Since then we have done several shows together, including the 2010 Philadelphia International Flower Show, where Rick and I shared a room and many meals over the course of eight days. That is when we logged the most time together, but the frequent phone calls and occasional visits have kept us up to date with each other subsequently. Talking with Rick has always left me feeling upbeat, and it is always great to hear from him. Just a few days ago Rick called and we talked about how spring is just about here and the prospects for 2011. Rick’s optimism and good natured friendliness are the sort of virtues that endears people and leaves them wanting more. This morning my cell phone rang and his name flashed across my phone, and I thought, “Hey! It’s Rick!” Only it wasn’t Rick. It was Rick’s wife, Gloria. She called to inform me that Rick died rather suddenly of a brain aneurysm at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday. I was stunned and saddened and am still having a hard time processing the abruptness and finality of this. Rick was only 62. We can only imagine what it must be like for Gloria and the rest of Rick’s family. The only good thing about it is that he didn’t have long to suffer. Gloria said he would have chosen this over a long drawn out decline. But we all would have preferred to have more time with Rick just the way we knew him. Gloria retired last year, and I am sure she treasures the fleeting months when they were both retired at the same time. But this was supposed to be the beginning of many years of retired companionship. Rick recently talked with Gloria about his relatives who died at about eighty years of age. He expressed that there is a lot he wants to experience in the next eighteen years. Gloria says she sort of counted on having him at least that long. I have not been able to stop thinking about Rick all day since Gloria called. It is just hard to believe I can’t scroll to his name on my cell, press the call button and talk with him. It also makes me think about how none of us has a lease on life, what is most important given that our days are numbered...
Gloria, I am grateful to have counted your husband as a friend, and he will be missed. I will miss Rick’s friendly, considerate manner. I will miss his easy going, genuinely good natured and down to earth way. Not only was Rick a level headed and organized self-starter type business man, but he was a generous, gracious and eternally optimistic friend. May God bless you and comfort you. Or in the words of another: “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your heart and establish you in every good word and work.” (II Thessalonians 2:16-17)
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4702 Carlisle Pike | Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(717) 774-4074