Memories of Richard Ethan Rodgers

In memory of

Richard Ethan Rodgers

Portland, OR, USA

June 2, 1990 - December 9, 2020

Jun 2, 1990 - Dec 9, 2020

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JJ Rodgers

Family backpacking trip to Medicine Bow National Forest

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Wesley Ludlow

Becky Noad

Mari Sharpe

JJ Rodgers

Mari Sharpe

2017

Richard’s first playtime with Lazarus the snake

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JJ Rodgers

Wesley Ludlow

Stephanie Lacy

Comments:

JJ Rodgers

Thank you for sharing Mari! Take good care of yourself and all good things to you - Wes & J.J. Thank you for sharing Mari! Take good care of yourself and all good things to you - Wes & J.J. Thank you for sharing Mari! Take good care of yourself... Read more

JJ Rodgers

Forever Richard's fur baby

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Wesley Ludlow

Mari Sharpe

Stephanie Lacy

Becky Noad

JJ Rodgers

Kris Cammarata Lee

Comments:

Becky Noad

Sweet Jinxy. She is such a beautiful fur baby raised by a beautiful human. Sweet Jinxy. She is such a beautiful fur baby raised by a beautiful human. Sweet Jinxy. She is such a beautiful fur baby raised... Read more

Please consider a gift to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

$2,000.00

Raised by 12 people

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JJ Rodgers

Brothers & Sisters...loving, laughing, & making homeade pizzas with Mom & Dad

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Becky Noad

Mari Sharpe

Kris Cammarata Lee

Wesley Ludlow

Stephanie Lacy

JJ Rodgers

Becky Noad

JJ, Wes, and Family,

I never had the opportunity to meet Richard. However, from all that has been shared with me in my friendship with JJ and all that I've read here about Richard, I can see and feel so clearly he was an amazingly beautiful soul. He clearly touched so many people very deeply and shined a bright light for them. Also, from his mother, I know him to be a true love and advocate for animals which always makes a beautiful person! I wish I'd gotten the chance to know him. My favorite "memory" of Richard was a picture JJ shared with me of him and Jinxy. I recall JJ telling me he went to the same spot every year on Jinxy's adoption day to take the picture. It was really beautiful and touching. I also sincerely respect and admire his courage in living openly with mental illness. This is another way in which he shared his beautiful spirit with the world-by showing others it is okay to openly struggle with depression and reach out for support.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful son, brother, grandson, friend, and uncle. His kind, gracious, and beautiful spirit and bright light will always be remembered. The world became a better place when he entered it and will always be better for his time here.
All my love,
Becky

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Wesley Ludlow

JJ Rodgers

Comments:

JJ Rodgers

Becky, my dear best friend....my heart. I love you, and your beautiful, kind-hearted soul. You & I will take... Read more Becky, my dear best friend....my heart. I love you, and your beautiful, kind-hearted soul. You & I will take a long walk along... Read more Becky, my dear best friend....my heart. I love you,... Read more

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JJ Rodgers

Richard in tender"bald solidarity" with sister Leann during her cancer journey

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Becky Noad

Mari Sharpe

Wesley Ludlow

Kris Cammarata Lee

Stephanie Lacy

JJ Rodgers

Kim Graves

2004

Richard was the first person in Fort Collins who made me feel seen. I was 14 and had just moved from a suburb of Denver. I had met some great friends, but getting settled into a new city and a new school has it's challenges. I always thought Richard was funny and smart, and one day in a class where we sat near each other I said something biting about the sitting president. Richard looked at me with surprise and delight in a moment I have replayed often in my head. It sounds small, but his recognition of my values and opinions was a transformative experience. This moment changed our acquaintanceship into a friendship and, over time, morphed my friend group into the people that would define my formative years.
Richard and I grew apart, but I think of him often.

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Wesley Ludlow

JJ Rodgers

Becky Noad

Comments:

JJ Rodgers

Thank you so much Kim for sharing your special memory...It is these beautiful moments & interactions with... Read more Thank you so much Kim for sharing your special memory...It is these beautiful moments & interactions with others that we may have... Read more Thank you so much Kim for sharing your special memory...It... Read more

JJ Rodgers

Bob, Liv, Richard, Josh & Michael

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Wesley Ludlow

Becky Noad

Mari Sharpe

Kris Cammarata Lee

Stephanie Lacy

JJ Rodgers

Richard & sister Olivia

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Wesley Ludlow

Mari Sharpe

Becky Noad

Kris Cammarata Lee

Stephanie Lacy

JJ Rodgers

Becca June

Shared a heart

JJ Rodgers

Becky Noad

Comments:

Lynn Murphy

What a beautiful obituary! He was obviously a bright light in this world and I'm sorry for your loss. What a beautiful obituary! He was obviously a bright light in this world and I'm sorry for your loss. What a beautiful obituary! He was obviously a bright... Read more

JJ Rodgers

We so appreciate your kind words of condolence Lynn!💕 Best, Wes & J.J. We so appreciate your kind words of condolence Lynn!💕 Best, Wes & J.J. We so appreciate your kind words of condolence Lynn!💕... Read more

Wesley Ludlow

"Richard, I remember looking at the night sky with you and discussing the cosmos. I loved being your Dad. I'll miss you forever. This is for you:

I am without form
Without limit
I am beyond space
Beyond time
I am in everything
Everything is in me
I am the bliss of the universe
Everywhere, I am
I am absolute existence
Absolute knowledge
Absolute bliss
I am that"

By Rama Tirtha

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JJ Rodgers

Mari Sharpe

Becky Noad

Stephanie Lacy

Kris Cammarata Lee

Rowan Moon

Shared a heart

JJ Rodgers

Wesley Ludlow

Starr Hill

Wes, JJ, Josh, and family, I am sorry to hear of the loss of Richard- he was such a light- a wonderful writer, as I remember from having him in middle school. I am glad to hear he continued finding joy in that throughout his life. I have many memories of Richard and his wry sense of humor- one was passing notes in class and when I read it, there was nothing I could do but give it back and laugh because it was to another student lauding his chosen presidential candidate. Another was on the last day I worked at CLP- he was headed to high school and I to another school. He took a pair of scissors and cut the flap of my shirt pocket off, telling me he now had a piece of my soul. Well, he certainly does- he will be missed. Many condolences.

Starr (McCain) Hill, Richards junior high English teacher

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Wesley Ludlow

JJ Rodgers

Comments:

JJ Rodgers

Starr, What a lovely, and dare we say very accurate remembrance of Richard! Certainly unique with that wry... Read more Starr, What a lovely, and dare we say very accurate remembrance of Richard! Certainly unique with that wry sense of humor you... Read more Starr, What a lovely, and dare we say very accurate... Read more

Jennifer Nelson

Wesley Ludlow

JJ Rodgers

Becky Noad

Stephanie Lacy

Comments:

JJ Rodgers

Vancouver Aquarium; Vancouver BC Canada trip. Richard's Orca toy he loved hard, till worn out... Vancouver Aquarium; Vancouver BC Canada trip. Richard's Orca toy he loved hard, till worn out... Vancouver Aquarium; Vancouver BC Canada trip. Richard's... Read more

Stephanie Lacy

2010, Fort Collins, CO, USA

What a fun night of dancing, the middle of summer, I just remember smiles like these.

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JJ Rodgers

Wesley Ludlow

Mari Sharpe

Becky Noad

Stephanie Lacy

2010, Fort Collins, CO, USA

I love this photo of you hula hooping. Probably June 2010. I remember you were’t very good but having so much fun and laughing. I still have this hula hoop too!

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JJ Rodgers

Wesley Ludlow

Mari Sharpe

Becky Noad

Stephanie Lacy

Portland, OR, USA

We met in art class at Cache La Poudre Junior High. As I flip through the pages of my high school diaries I can see so plainly what an enormous impact you had on me. You were a magnet all those formative years, and seemed to be the center of all the places I wanted to be. So pleased that someone wanted to exchange letters with me, talk about the mysteries of the universe, read about anarcho punks, walk by the river, spend hours at Algier’s, climb rooftops, drink tea, take drives in the mountains, dumpster dive old peaches, and walk by lantern-light in the darkness barefoot. You introduced me to a hundred bands that I still love, movies I continue to rewatch, books that will forever live on my shelf, and philosophies that helped form the person I am now. Through you, I met my closest friends, so many people I’ll love forever. You brought people together and made them feel special. I loved you.

I am grateful to have known you then, and to have known you when we were grown up in Portland, Oregon. I’m grateful to have known so many evolutions of you. So many things changed, we were not very close the last several years. And yet, all I think now is that I wish I could see you again. You were such a constant in my life, and so many other’s lives. I thought I’d know you forever. I wish I’d known you were hurting.

Thank you for being in my life. <3 All of my love to your wonderful family. I am thinking of you all, and holding you all close to my heart.

“Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars.” - Carl Sagan, Cosmos

- Steph

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JJ Rodgers

Wesley Ludlow

Becky Noad

Comments:

JJ Rodgers

Oh Stephanie, we will be forever grateful for the unforgettable glimpse into the special friendship you shared... Read more Oh Stephanie, we will be forever grateful for the unforgettable glimpse into the special friendship you shared with Richard. We... Read more Oh Stephanie, we will be forever grateful for the unforgettable... Read more