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BORN
1952
DIED
2014
Richard Caesar Obituary
Feb 18, 1952 -
July 16, 2014
Born to Sidney and Florence (Levy) Caesar in New York, NY., he moved to Beverly Hills, CA. at age 15. After winning the Southern California State Basketball Championship as a 6'8" senior at Beverly Hills High, he attended Yale Univ. and majored in English. After his 2nd year he took a year off "to write poetry and work on his beard." He later used his degree to write book reviews. He attended medical school at UC Davis and then worked as an ER doctor for 18 years at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. He enjoyed reading, skiing, the outdoors, exercise, and a good movie.
He was married to Marcy McNeilly for 7 yrs. In 2002, he married Alisa Jaspers and moved to Eugene. He worked in Addiction Medicine at Serenity Lane Treatment Center. He died from complications from a 2012 surgery.
He is survived by his wife Alisa; and his sons Elijah (8) and Rowan (4); and sisters Karen Caesar (Tim Carroll) and Michele Glad. A funeral service will be held at 11AM Tues. July 22, 2014 at St. Alice Catholic Church with a reception to follow.
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Memories and Condolences
for Richard Caesar
Sponsored by The Caesar Family.
Vijay Sikand
July 14, 2025
Continuing to remember you at times when invoking your spirit, who you were to you friends and patients and the kindness you showed to others.
Daniel Murnaghan
April 6, 2024
I knew him when he was at Good Samaritan and he exuded a gentle kindness, A good and decent man was lost to the world too soon.
Dr John Kast
April 3, 2024
Rick played a critical role in my finally getting sober years ago-he was my monitor/ counselor when I was at SL years ago and during my journey afterwards. He was a trusted advisor and friend-never judging. He has helped so many I am very sad to hear that he has passed
Sam
June 25, 2023
Sounds like a lovely - and very intelligent - man. Rest in peace, Richard.
Denise Winter
November 27, 2021
This is such a sad shock for me- I worked at UC Davis as an RN & that´s where I met Rick. He was a young, tall & very polite Resident. All the Nurses liked him-a lot. He was very competent & kind to his patients. We ALL wanted to throw moves on him, just didn´t know how. Just checking on old friends & acquaintances & saw this. So sad. Losing him was a tremendous loss - to a lot of people & patients & to medicine. My deepest condolences to Rick´s family.
Candy Neville
September 20, 2020
Sounds like he was a very nice person. I found this obituary after watching interviews of his dad, Sid Caesar. One of the greatest comics of all time. I followed his life story and just wondered what happened to his kids. I live in Eugene and would have loved to have met this great family. Sounds like Richard's life was too short but very well spent. My condolences to the family.
Barry Proner
April 2, 2019
I was Ricky's camp counsellor in 1962 and 1963. I remember him well as a delightful, polite and fun-loving boy. I'm deeply saddened to learn he died so early.
Dave Paley
February 27, 2018
Rick was a year behind me at GNN and we didn't know each other. I knew him only as a gawky 8th grader and son of a famous person. Looked him up after seeing his father referenced in an obituary. I just want to say I'm very glad he became an accomplished basketball player and had a wonderful life, albeit too short. I which I knew him.
Rick:Rational yet generously openminded, deeply kind.
William (Bill) Hoover
January 16, 2017
We talked Science/Spirit beyond belief :)
William (Bill) Hoover
January 16, 2017
William (Bill) Hoover
January 15, 2017
Rick picked me & my 95lb dog, Partner, up hitchhiking during 13 years out of an 80 lb expedition backpack, learning about people AS my higher education. I stayed at his home several more times when traveling to/from visiting my Dad & family in Tri-Citties, east of Portland. I mention this because it says a LOT about Rick...
I loved that he lived INTERESTED. We liked it in each other. He was keen at spotting depth in another. It was obvious. I lived on the road to meet & learn about others. I loved that we becames friends immediately. Stayed friends easily. But I envy his best friends' breadths/depths of relationship with him. Would love to hear more. My eyes & nostrils sting to wetness to find he's gone. Please share if you will. Bill Hoover 720-938-7811.
I reached back 'cause I know he'd be curious what became of the wayward pilgrim it was so easy to like & trust---but too late. I've treasures I can't give him....but, will share with any who loved him.
I am:
[email protected]
October 15, 2015
Ricky was one of my best friends in elementary and junior high. He was an enormously bright and loving guy then and I'm certain his soul still is. I'm deeply saddened to hear this only now. My best to Shelley and Karen.
Steve Miller
July 28, 2015
Sorry to hear this. Rick was in my bunk at sleep away camp.
Daniel Murnaghan
February 5, 2015
I met Rick in Portland in 1982 when he was dating my girlfriend's room mate. I liked him very much and he told me that the best English is spoken in Dublin - my town. I just now found out of his passing. He was a kind and gentle man.Ar dheis De go rabh a anaim.
Tita Evans
December 22, 2014
I am very sorry to hear of Dr. Caesar's death. I think of him often, and pray he found peace and rest. Thank you for your service to others Dr, Carsar, your life was not simple, and had many challenges, and yet, you continued to assist those struggling with their own demons. Kindest regards.
Vijay Sikand
November 7, 2014
I was shocked and saddened to see in the Yale Alumni Magazine's "In Memoriam" section that Rick had passed away at such a young age. I was a classmate of Rick's living together in the same residential college at Yale, Silliman. We were not close friends, but we connected many times just to talk and socialize. He had a single room one year (right next to the Dean's Office) on the ground floor of the college. We had spent maybe an hour one winter night talking in his room. It was snowing outside, lightly. Besides the door out of his room into the hallway, his room had another exit directly into the Silliman courtyard with three steps down. I decided to leave his room to go back to mine in that more picturesque way. Well, I slipped on the snowy steps and dislocated my right shoulder. Fortunately, it popped back in on its own, probably because I was so relaxed . I have thought of Rick and remembered that night and missed not re-connecting with him, many, many times over the last 30 years. I also became a physician. I also worked in emergency medicine and now in addiction medicine. I wish, Rick, that you were alive today for us to talk again. To your family, I send my love and condolences. Please email me at [email protected] if you wish, to connect with someone who was a college friend and regretfully went down divergent paths.
Lou Kilzer
November 4, 2014
I was living in East Haven. Rick showed up in suba grear and went into Long Island Sound. We thought he was lost, but two hours later her surfaced and said, "There's nothing alive down there."
He was one of my herroes.
Nita Goss
October 8, 2014
I just heard the news and am very saddened. This was a very courageous man and he fought a very courageous battle. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Godspeed.
September 11, 2014
I met him once at a family dinner in Gaston,Oregon. We marveled over the salmon mouse. Wow, what a shame.
Mark Branlund
August 12, 2014
Rick was one of the most introspective thoughtful men I have known. In the years and ups/downs of life I never saw/heard him raise his voice or get on the "other" side of his emotions. He was diligent about his helping the recovering person find a new way to think and would ask his patients the tough medical questions that made them think. He was a good friend and he will be missed..
John Cardasis
July 25, 2014
It's with great sadness that I heard of Ricks passing last night.
Although I hadn't had much contact with Ricky since the days at GNN High,
he was one of the very few people I got to be friends with during those times.
Too bad I was only 5'8” back in those days. If I wasn't guarding Ricky on the court
it was Phil. Made me a scrapper on the court.
His family use to come into our restaurant, so I also was able to have some contact on those
occasions. I feel very fortunate to have been able to spend time again at the dinner table with him at
our last class reunion. Most of the conversation was about our children. Such a shame those kids are
not going to have the presence of such a good person in their lives any longer.
Peace be with you brother
Andrea Fish
July 24, 2014
My Dear Cousin Ricky -- You were my rock.
Although we didn't speak often, I felt I could always count on you for sound advice -- medical or otherwise.
I didn't know you were in so much pain. My heart goes out to you, Alisa, Elijah, Rowan, Karen and Shelley.
Karen Lynch
July 23, 2014
I was saddened to learn about Ricks passing. I worked with him when he first came to work at Serenity Lane. As a physician, I found him to be so smart, witty, caring, intelligent and respectful of his patients and the staff. As an RN, I found him easy to work with. We shared some professional experiences and conversations. I am currently working at Mckenzie Willamette medical center but due to my schedule, couldn't make it across the street to his funeral service. My heartfelt empathy and sympathy to his family and his children. I will always remember Rick fondly.
July 22, 2014
Dear, "Ricky", yes, Dr. Rick let me call him "Ricky"as a joke during our years working together at Serenity Lane. I was in the reception dept. and
loved to tease him about his hair. He was so much fun to tease.He showed me a picture of him at 18 with long thick hair.I was shocked. He will be missed greatly.
Andy White
william adelman
July 22, 2014
always smiling. never had a frown on his face.loved life to the
fullest. it is a shame to lose some one so young.our condolences to his wife and two young children.
william and ellen adelman class of 1969 bhhs
Henry (Bugsy) Siegel
Henry Siegel
July 22, 2014
We all looked up to Rick...literally and figuratively. What an amazing man. Always soft spoken and articulate...and I am talking about my experience with him in at BHHS!
About 6 months ago I reached to Rick on Facebook..was nice to reconnect with an abbreviated catch up. Little did I know he had complications from a 2012 surgery.
Blessings to his family.
Jim Low
July 21, 2014
So awfully sorry to hear about Rick's untimely passing. I know this is a terrible blow to you and the kids. Rick was a great guy in unimaginable pain. I miss him greatly and will for a long time to come.
Lonny Whelchel
July 21, 2014
I spent a grand total of maybe 30-35 hours with Rick between 2012 and 2013. It was a great experience. We never broke bread, shared a cup of coffee, or even socialized. We read to the masses over the airwaves on Eugene Sounds together. I learned a little about him from our very brief conversations during our weekly visits. I missed him after he left the show due to health reasons of which I knew nothing about. Like all who knew him I am saddened by his passing and will hold on to those all to short memories of him.
Julie Bold
July 21, 2014
Ricky and I were in 7th grade homeroom together. He was always the tallest kid but also the nicest. I am so grateful that he was able to attend our reunion a few years ago and i got to spend some time with him. Ricky, you will always be in my prayers.
Steve Haines
July 21, 2014
For almost 20 years I'm proud to say Rick Caesar was one of my closest friends. We were the same age. We dissected politics, religion, books, movies, TV and both took up the piano in middle age. I called him when my parents were dying and when they passed, I called during stormy times in my marriage, I called when friends and family were at a loss with how to deal with a loved one in the grip of addiction. For me and those he spoke to at my request Rick provided calm, reasoned and wise counsel. His friendship is irreplaceable. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Alisa, Elijah, Rowan and Rick's sisters Karen and Michele,
Laurie Ackerman
July 21, 2014
Dear Rick,
I only knew you as our Captain of the BHHS Basketball team.You were Air Jordan,Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabar all rolled into one great athlete of our era.You were sheer poetry on the court especially when you lead the team to a great CIF Championship in 1969.Sandy Koufax called the game on National television in which the game went into four overtimes. 40 years later I walked up to you and said I only had one thing to say.91-90! At first you looked puzzled by my comment and then in your own humble way you appreciated both the great memory of that day as well as the humor in my surprising comment. too.Thank you for being my Facebook friend. I will miss you and saddened by your death.You accomplished so much in your 62 years of your life. May your life serve as a memory and blessing to all of us. RIP Captain Rick Caesar
Howard Brockman
July 20, 2014
I knew Rick from BHHS but it was when he moved to Oregon that we became good friends. He was a rationalist yet always open to the various psychospiritual methods that I would share with him over the years. We had wonderful discussions about life and love and the veracity of spirituality. I will have a hard time getting over this loss. I will be doing my own praying and journeying to do what I can to help him get to a good place wherever he ends up.
July 20, 2014
a terrilbe loss. Rick was such a unique and interesting man. I was blessed to know him for over 50 years. I will miss my friend forever.
Kenny Riskin
July 20, 2014
Ricky
you were a kind, sweet man.
So sad you couldn't stick around a bit longer. We were a better place with you around.
Ken
Trina
July 20, 2014
Rick was very, very funny (I have to lead with that). He was gentle. He cared a lot about words (spoken, written, sung). He was a true friend, through the years, decades. I loved him and miss him more than I can say. All love and strength to Alisa, Elijah, Rowan, Karen, Michele and everyone else who was in Rick's life.
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