In Memory

Richard Barraza

Richard Barraza died January 6 in a car accident. His service is Thursday, January 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Mayflower Church on Central Avenue in Pacific Grove. A link is provided to the Herald obituary.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montereyherald/obituary.aspx?n=william-richard-barraza-rb&pid=187828475&fhid=6695



 
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01/11/18 09:12 PM #1    

Michael Selbicky

Richard was a great guy.  We had good times together when we were boys and had good times together as men.  I will miss him but look forward to being on that track team with him in heaven! I wonder if the wings on his feet are even bigger now?     

Mike


01/15/18 08:33 AM #2    

David Fitzpatrick

Richard was kind, good-natured, talented, and humble, but also one of the fiercest competitors I ever knew. I knew him, since Junior High. I'll always cherish those memories we made, in track, cross-country, and elsewhere. Rest in peace, R.B.

 


01/17/18 01:49 PM #3    

Anthony Troia

Richard was smart, funny, and a great runner -- a real workhorse for the Track and Cross Country teams. He also had a good singing voice. I was in a 7th grade chorus class with Richard, and Mr Dill picked him to be the lead singer in some musical we put on. He did a great job. Seems he did a great job at everything he took on. He will be missed.


01/19/18 04:52 AM #4    

Wayne Thomas (Thomas)

Richard always had a positive attitude, a smile for everyone, and never waivered. Though I knew him only in my Senior year, his character and friendship were second to none. No time to rest my friend, lace up those special shoes and continuing doing your thing In God's land. From here, every day is a win for you; run RB, run!


01/21/18 10:04 AM #5    

Michael Selbicky

Richard never quit! 

It was 1970. We were freshman on the track team. It was a very large team. Coach Chamberlin had a lot to deal with in numbers.  Logisticaly it probably could'nt have worked, traveling, buses, meals, time, . . .  He had to do something.  I think he devised a team workout so tortuous that people would quit and that's exactly what happened.  He had us all get in our groups.  Sprinters, jumpers, throwers and distance runners were all assigned to do ten 400's under a certain specified time for their group and you had to stay on the track until you did it! It was gut-wrentching and after a few of these it was evident- impossible!  The final straw was when the distance runners, led by Richard Barraza, came across the line 2 seconds late. I mean these guys were in great shape and could not make it.  Richard was in tears.  He wanted it so bad and could'nt please his coach.  All coach Chamberlin could say was, "line up and do it again!"  One of the seniors, a top hurdler, said, "That's it , I quit!" and he gathered his sweats and walked off towards the locker room with half the team in tow. As we got half way up the hill we could hear Chamberlin yelling at us to come back because practice wasn't over and we were'nt dismissed!  We hollered back, "It;s over, we're quit"  The next voice we heard was Coach Bo Resch's booming voice and he was asking us to come back and talk it over. Half of us returned to the track to hash it over with the coaches. A quarter of the team quit.  When we got back to the track we joined the others who waited for us.  Richard was there. He never left the track. Richard never quit!


01/22/18 09:13 AM #6    

Stephen Watts

I KNEW RICHARD WHEN WE BOTH 10 YEARS OLD, IT WAS SAD TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING. I READ FROM STEVE ROBERTSONS MESSAGE THAT HE WAS THE MOST FIERCEST COMPETITOR AND IT MADE ME THINK OF THE TIME WHEN HE WAS PLAYINGCENTER FIELD FOR THE 20 30 CLUB IN LITTLE LEAGUE. THIS GUY HIT A BALL SO HIGH AND SO FAR THAT MOST GUYS WOULS HAVE LET IT SAIL OVER THE LINE THAT WAS THERE BUT NOT RICHARD, HE MUST HAVE RUN 150 FEET AND MADE A FANTASTIC CATCH LIKE WILLIE MAYS DID IN THE 1954 WORLD SERIES, IT WAS STILL A HOMERUN BUT THAT CATCH AND HOW FAR HE RAN AFTER IT WAS THE MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET. GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND 


01/22/18 07:26 PM #7    

Cindy Larkin (DeAmaral)

My memories are really very simple. Whenever I picture Richard in my mind he has the biggest smile you've ever seen. He had a truly joyous heart. Being around him made you smile too. Spread your joy Richard.
Cindy DeAmaral (Larkin)

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