obituary from clevelandjewishnews

Rick grew up mostly in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan. It was there that he met Judi Weil of Philadelphia, whose love and presence he was to treasure above all else until the end. Rick and Judi married after graduation, and headed off to George Washington University for law school. With the draft on, Rick decided to join the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps to do the four year minimum (a wise choice since his birthday, Sept. 14, was drawn first in the draft lottery) and return to civilian life.

Four years of heroic Navy and Marine Corps clients, and he simply could not go back to the private practice of law right away; he stayed for 28 years. The Navy took Judi and Rick to Newport, R.I.; Boston, where daughter Karen was born; San Diego, where son Dan was born; Naples, Italy; Charlottesville, Va.; Iceland; Pensacola, Fla.; the Pentagon; back to Naples; Norfolk, Va.; and Back to Washington, D.C. Their house in Garrett County is number 17.

Professionally, Rick had a diverse and rewarding Navy career. He spent a lot of time in the courtroom, off and on, and as a young military judge he rode the Navy's ships and planes to try cases at sea and ashore throughout the Mediterranean, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Navy sent Rick to the University of Virginia for Master of Laws in Law of the Sea and International Law. He would use that expertise dealing with treaty issues overseas and as an advisor to senior naval operational commanders. Retiring from the Navy, he was hired by the National Indian Gaming Commission, which regulates tribal casinos.

Just as he was attracted to the naval service by its people and honored to serve them, he was honored to get to know and work with the diverse and accomplished people who make up Native America and the people who worked on their issues. At the start of the Iraq War, though, Rick wanted to again serve Sailors and Marines getting shot at, and went back to the Department of Defense, serving as a general counsel in the intelligence community.

After retirement with the world to choose from, Judi and Rick eventually settled on Garrett County, with its idiosyncratic climate, natural beauty and wonderful people. Rick was active in his adopted community. He served on the board of directors of Garrett Mentors, with two terms as president, and he mentored in the elementary schools. Rick was secretary of Deep Creek Lake Lions, a mountain host at Wisp, a state park volunteer and a member of Garrett County planning commission. He filled his idle time with newfound interests in skiing, pickleball, sporting clays and bridge, and when he sat still he indulged his love of reading.

In addition to Judi, Rick is survived by daughter, Karen Freeman; her husband, Barry; and their children, Rebecca, Jarrett and Lexi, of Solon, and son, Dan and his wife, Dr. Jennifer Schiff, who reside in Waynesville, N.C. He is also survived by sisters, Jan Flecker, Amy Peterson and Sally Maguire; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.