Via http://plumbers-santa-barbara.com Family members and friends are mourning the passing of Santa Barbara's R.P. Richards, an influential political player and founder of the construction company that bears his name.
Richards, who left his mark on the community area in the form of numerous construction projects, including what was then known as Fess Parker’s Red Lion Inn on Cabrillo Boulevard, passed away at his home in Montecito on Monday afternoon, according to his family. He was 89.
Born Robert Paul Richards, in Seattle on Sept. 5, 1921, he was the patriarch of a family that includes four sons and a daughter. He was also known for his philanthropy, community activism, yacht racing and dancing, according to some of those who knew him.
He joined the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor dragged the U.S. into World War II. His ability to type got him assigned to the Bureau of Personnel in Washington D.C., while the rest of his group from boot camp was assigned to the USS Midway, which was later sunk. He then requested reassignment and was stationed aboard the new USS Lexington. He served in the Pacific Theater until the end of the war.
Some of Richards’ employees worked for him for decades, said George Galindo, who, while starting as a plumbing apprentice and working for the company for 14 years, described himself as a late-comer compared to those who were employed by Richards for 25 to 30 years or more.
During that time the company grew to be one of the largest of its kind in the country as it did projects that included the control tower at Los Angeles International Airport, the Sunset Village student housing and parking complex at UCLA and the city of Santa Barbara’s desalination plant and the control tower and a terminal building at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.
The company did a considerable amount of defense contracting as well, including the Naval Reserve Center remodel and projects at Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the U.S. Naval Station at Pt. Mugu.
The company closed in 1999. By then Richards was retired and the firm was run by his sons.
MAN ABOUT TOWN
Richards sailed and raced at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, where he was a member.
“R.P. was definitely the unofficial mayor of Santa Barbara,” said friend Jimmy Lykes. “He was the epitome of someone who loved life to its fullest to the very end.”
Lykes said his friend had a magnetism that was hard to resist and was a loyal follower of his band, Jimmy Lykes and the Club Swingers.
“I’ve known him for 17 years,” he said. “We met at Coast Village Grill (present site of Lucky’s steakhouse) back in ‘93 and just hit it off, with his charisma and bon vivant personality. He used to come to all my gigs and loved my music. He used to be the first one on the dance floor and the last one off.”
Richards attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Montecito.
Roger Aceves, current city councilman and former mayor of Goleta, where Richards’ construction company was based, said he was sad to hear the news that such an important member of the community had passed away.
“He’s been a huge community member,” said Aceves, whose own mother passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84. “R.P. Richards has been a longtime businessman and he was very involved for many years in the community … in community organizations and you would see him at community events.”
On his 85th birthday, he was thrown a huge bash at the Montecito Country Club, said a friend who attended the party, where many guests donned I (heart) RP T-shirts.
At annual company parties, Richards could be seen playing egg toss at a company picnic or dancing at the Christmas party, and such affairs were held faithfully each year, said Galindo.
“He was a neat man. I liked him,” he said.
Richards is preceded in death by his wife Eleanor, to whom he was wed in 1944.
He is survived by his sister Leona of Seattle; daughter Claudia of Sacramento; and four sons, Robert II, Edmund, Peter and Brian, all of Santa Barbara, as well of seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will take place at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Montecito at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30,, followed by a reception at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club.
I am deeply saddened by the passing of RP. We were good friends in the early to mid 90s. I was a frequent guest at his Montecito home and the SB yacht club. We traveled to Mexico a few tines for the regatta. If you know his son Brian please give him my cell. 949-375-7775. I was not aware he had passed 5 years ago since we lost touch. Thanks.
ReplyDelete