Richard Straley died early this morning on his 81st birthday. He is the uncle of Jeanne and Tony Parisi, Donna and Linda Wagner and brother-in-law of former SRL teacher Mrs. Teresa Parisi. He grew up on Fifth Street in the 1930's and 40's and graduated Barringer in 1945. He used to tell us some great stories about hanging out at Grunings during the war years. He met his wife while working at the Newark Library, but switched careers to become an artist of some note. Maybe some of our oldtimers remember him?

I do indeed remember Richard. One year on Halloween, my mom and Marilyn, took us kids up to Maplewood to trick or treat. The mom's dressed up in crazy masks and went to the door saying making weird remarks. Richard never missed a beat just handed over candy and shut the door. When we went in he was getting ready for an art show and there were paintings everywhere. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen to have all these wonderful paintings everywhere. I loved his work. My deepest sympathy to everyone.

He had a stroke 20 years ago, but taught himself to continue painting lefthanded. An excellent artist, but an even better person.