One of the things that make life exciting is meeting someone with extraordinary gifts and high intelligence, complemented by a grand character. Such a man was Rick Shelly. He died June 18 after a series of illnesses, encompassing decades, any one of which would have felled a person of lesser determination.
My good friend Bert Spetzler is responsible for my meeting Rick, growing to admire him, and as I came to know him well, loving him as did so many people whose lives he touched.
Bert and I have been reading books together on a weekly basis for more than seven years. Our association began after Bert’s catastrophic bicycle accident. When he returned from Shepherd’s Spinal Center in Atlanta, a friend suggested that reading to him might help him pass the terribly hard time of his continuing rehabilitation. So read we did–mostly early American history.
After several years, Bert suggested we expand our group to others who were handicapped by health issues. That’s how Rick became a member of the 4Gs (The 4 Gimps), as we laughingly called ourselves.
Bert and his wife, Clarine, had first met Rick when he became the founding Director of the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School in 1985. Both of their children, Matt and Karli, were selected to attend and went on to distinguish themselves. Rick’s friendship with the Spetzlers continued after their graduation.
In addition to his responsibilities at the Governor’s School, he also had teaching experience in Fairfax County, Virginia Tech, and University of Virginia. He was a volunteer fireman for Roanoke County and taught Sunday school at Cave Spring Baptist Church. He often told friends that being the director of the Governor’s School wasn’t a job, it was a calling.
All too soon illnesses of varied types began to take their toll on Rick. Two bone marrow transplants for a malignancy were followed by a series of strokes and intestinal difficulties. All of these caused his retirement. When Bert asked him about joining our reading group, Rick was enthusiastic.
Bill Haddad, a well-known and prominent volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, became the fourth member, and it was decided that we would confer university status to our little group. Bert was Chancellor, Rick was Provost, Bill was Dean, and I was the Student Body.
Through the four years that Rick was with us, he continued to teach us. Although his speech was impaired, his mind remained keen. While he marshalled his thoughts like freight cars being formed into a train, we would wait until he was ready to speak and bring a new insight to our reading.
He never lost sight of the needs of others. During the years we spent together, Bert’s wife died of a brain tumor, my daughter died of a rare malignancy. Rick was always there with a consoling word and deep compassion. He and his wife, Vicki, had travelled down that difficult road in their families. With all his health challenges, not once did we ever see him when he was discouraged or complaining. His good humor was always abounding.
Once when I was driving him home after 4G, I asked him how he maintained such a sense of optimism when facing a difficult future. I was looking for support in the crisis my family was facing with my daughter’s impending death. Rick said, “Oh, I don’t worry about it. I know that God will look after us all.”
End of conversation . . . but I knew he was right.
Now we have an empty chair in our 4G “classroom,” but Rick will live on in the memory of those who loved him as a gentleman scholar and a man of grand character. How fortunate we have been to have him pass through our lives!
Hayden Hollingsworth
