Many already know about this happening, but I have purposely waited to tell the CR list that we have lost one of our members.
Mike Richardson (his e-mail "handle" was felice75@hotmail.com) died by his own hand about 4 PM on Saturday afternoon during the Cirque du Cyclisme activities. He left the CR seminar session and went into the nearby park and shot himself.
Mike has been a close friend of mine since 1974 when he was a high school student and my first employee in the first bicycle shop I managed. I was the best man at his wedding some years later and he raced on my team for many years as a highly skilled cat rider. He also served as a team mechanic at the Coors Classic and other races. He was a kind, quiet, unassuming guy with great intelligence and love of all sorts of bicycles.
Mike was very competent senior aircraft mechanic for US Air. A few years ago, after being transferred to a new work place, Mike came under harassment by a number of "good old boys" who apparently took a dislike to his shaved legs and introverted manner. He seemed to not be able to rebound from this and eventually quit his job (after 20 years service!) and sunk into a deep depression. I guess we could say he suffered a "nervous breakdown" although that description is probably not a part of current psychologic vernacular. He had been under a psychiatrist's care for a year or so but obviously it was not successful treatment....
I will always focus on the Mike Richardson with whom I shared great moments; Mike as he truly was, before life got him down. He was a prince and I shall miss him greatly. Friendship is a wonderful thing and we all should cherish the time we can share with people we love and respect. Go now and tell all those people that you love them and to be tough, see a glass half full and keep stiff upper lip...
My heartfelt condolences to Mary, Mike's wife, who is now alone. Very sad indeed.
your friend, Dale
Dale Brown
cycles de ORO, Inc.
1410 Mill Street
Greensboro, NC 27408
336-274-5959
fax 336-274-6360
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com
http://www.classicrendezvous.com