Stories, Songs & Lessons

It is hard to imagine a world without Richard. He brought such joy to all of our lives. I am a better person for having known him. The values, creativity, and community spirit that my daughter and I both experienced at Interlocken will always be a part of us.

Karen and I were invited to a sugaring party at John Farrar's place out in Concord End one spring. I was away for some forgotten reason and planned to meet Karen at the party. On my way there, listening to a cassette, I memorized the words to the five verses of Maple Sweet. When I got out my guitar Richard asked me what I wanted to play. Of course, I announced that I'd just memorized the words to Maple Sweet. He replied that they had just played it. I was crestfallen. Richard said, well, let's hear it — and we played it again.

When your father spoke to anyone at camp, regardless of that person's age, he made a real connection. He showed the connection through his eyes, his body language, and through his words and deeds.

As a practicing psychologist, I have often used him as a model of how to connect to others in order to make a positive difference in the lives of those I interact with. There is a Japanese word, makoto, which translates to heart-mind. He genuinely embodied that expression in ways that made such a profoundly positive difference in so many people's lives.

A mentor whose wisdom is with me every day. Thinking of a magical flight with him from Great Barrington to Burlington, VT. The majesty of the Green Mountains on one side of us and the Adirondacks on the other. We talked, as always, about BIG ideas up there. A special moment with a truly special man.

The first time I met Richard was when he came to my house to present a slideshow about camp — hard to imagine a director doing that today. I had already fallen in love with the brochure, and Richard seemed very impressed when I looked at one of the slides and said, "is that Broomball?" Little did I know how much my love for camp would grow in the eight years I spent on site and down the road.

I talk about Interlocken often. I describe the camp and the people, the food and the adventures. From swimming to tree climbs, the bell would ring and campers would gather in the dining room. Richard would appear with a smile.

His special way of guiding children and developing leaders has been a North Star for me. Group meetings, banjo songs and that incredible sense of community inspired me to bring my best when leading Crossroads.

I imagine I, like many former campers, was a very small part of Richard's life, but that Richard was, to me and thousands of former campers, a formative part of my life. Honored to have known him, sung with him, and to be a beneficiary of the gift of Interlocken for five amazing summers.

He was so beloved. When he came back to camp for reunion a few years ago and we got to sit on the deck and sing and play music, see him smile that smile — a cherished soul. We will miss him. I asked my daughter, who is a current counselor, to play Old Blue Heron today if possible. Thousands and thousands of lives he touched.

I've recently been seeing blue herons in Marina Del Rey. I think of Richard every time and always will. Rest in peace and thank you for everything.

A mentor for life. I will always cherish our long chats in the basement when we should have been working. I loved getting into trouble with him. Love him deeply.

It is hard to say that we have lost a remarkable man when I, and I am sure so many others, carry something of Richard's remarkable spirit with us in our own lives — in our work, our communities, our relationships and our dreams. If the measure of a life well lived is found in the lives we touch and the difference we make in the world, then Richard's life and impact are like those of no other man I have known.

Interlocken (I will always call it that) was the highlight of my teenage years. I would always be miserable during the school year, but always had camp to look forward to in the summer. I loved the banjo songs, morning meetings, the gongs, and the campers. I felt like it was an inclusive environment, and Richard was most of the reason why.

My aunt attended Interlocken as a child, my cousin and I attended Windsor Mountain, then my younger cousin attended later in her childhood years. Richard created a space that bred community and belonging — a place my family loved for multiple generations. Forming international friendships at such a young age piqued curiosity, instilled fearlessness, and curated a strong sense of adventure.

I lived the very unique experience of Interlocken's summer camp five times in my life, and I can say without any doubt that this was the most influential, fun and formative experience of my entire life. To this day, five months short of my 60th birthday, nothing has ever even come close to it.

I loved spending time with him on the deck whenever he came to visit camp and his grandchildren. His spirit is everywhere at camp and his memory is a blessing to us all. Through his and Susan's creation, the world has been changed for the better by every person who has come through this place.

There were so many extraordinary people and experiences in my four years as a camper, multiple Crossroads trips and time as a counselor — a treasure trove. I recall the amazing Interlocken experience of singing and dancing with Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers. Thank you, Richard and Susan, for building such a beautiful community, and to their children for sharing them, and your childhood home, with us.

Richard made a huge impact on my life and that of my late life partner, Bob, who worked at and transformed Interlocken physically into the magical and amazing camp it is today.

I thought of Richard just a couple of days ago when, out of the blue, a song he and I sang together when we first met popped into my head. Richard arrived late into orientation my first year, so we'd had no opportunity to sit down for a chat. Opening day, he was playing music in the dining hall and greeting people who wandered by. I was nearby when he started My Grandfather's Clock (one of my favorites) so I joined him. He was so excited I knew the words. We sang together, then had a brief and lovely chat. Whenever I think of that song, I fondly remember Richard.

I went on two Magical Mystery Tours during my years at Interlocken, and they were both amazing educational experiences. People don't believe me when I tell them that a bunch of campers and a counselor were dropped off in a random place and left for three days. On one of my MMTs we cleared a runway — hard work in the hot sun — at the Jaffrey airport and were given private plane rides. On another we ended up at Tasha Tudor's house where we spent the night and learned to churn butter and helped with other farm chores. Interlocken was a special place which holds many sweet memories for me.