2025 has really been challenging for me having lost my father in January and my uncle in June. Then we lost Hulk Hogan, Ozzy Osbourne and Malcolm Jamal Warner within like a week of each other and now Rick. It’s like I’m actively watching my childhood becoming misty water colored memories. I was inspired by his celebration of life and all of the stories I heard. It motivated me to share some of the memories I had.
Rick and his mother Anganetta, or Angie as I knew her were my neighbors growing up in the early 80’s. I was maybe 7 or 8 when I met Rick who at the time was 13 or 14. At the time I was a little boy in a dirty t-shirt and cut off blue jeans who refused to wear shoes. You might say I was a bit feral. Rick, on the other hand, was a very well behaved young man who dressed like the kids in the Sunday sales ads. His clothes and appearance were pristine. Unlike me he was polite and said things like please and thank you. When his mother asked him to do something he did it without her having to raise her voice or threaten him with violence. You could say he made an immediate impact on me. I’m not going to say Rick’s influence completely changed my rugged childhood, but he definitely gave me some behavioral goals to work toward. Rick was always the coolest guy I knew. When Rick graduated high school a year early, that blew my mind. I thought he was some kind of Doogie Howser. I didn’t even know you could skip your senior year of high school and go straight to college but Rick did it.
Speaking of my father, who loved Rick like a little brother, It was around this time in my recollections that my father found a rusted out dilapidated Karman Ghia convertible in a junkyard. For years my father poured every spare minute and all of his surplus money restoring this automobile. Rick loved the car and would bring his friends from college to drool over it. It never really bothered me because my father also loved the car and appreciated Rick’s approval. I also loved the car and thought of it as my birthright. I looked forward to turning 16 and cruising around Salisbury turning heads on every corner. Then Rick started asking dad if he would ever sell “my birthright” to him. At first I wasn’t worried, dad loved the car as much as I did, but then I discovered something, that for the first time that made me worry about my imagined future, my mother hated the car. It was an unnecessary expense that dad spent too much of his free time on away from the family. When my parents talked about Rick's offer, mom insisted dad sell the car to Rick and that was that. I was upset at first but it didn’t last. Rick would come by often and visit with my parents with his school friends, most of whom were some of the most beautiful college girls I had ever seen in person. I was enthralled.
My biggest regret is not having been more a part of Rick's life as an adult. I always enjoyed seeing him out and catching up. When I worked at Circuit City Rick and Scott were two of my favorite customers and would only buy from me no matter how busy I was. They were just an absolute joy to interact with. For the last few years I have seen Rick’s life play out on social media which for me has been similar to watching an episode of Downton Abbey. I always imagined Rick being at the center of Salisbury’s high society. Quite frankly, I was proud to know him and even though I personally have never met a famous person, I have met Rick Anderson and in Salisbury that counts.
Rick will be missed but he certainly left a mark on me as he obviously did with everyone he met. Every time I dress a little nicer than I normally do or take a little extra time on my appearance I’ll think of Rick. Every time I drive through Salisbury past where the Sidewalk Deli was, I’ll think of Rick. But most of all when I’m thinking of the people who have influenced my life and the person I have grown to be, I will think of Rick.
