Richard G. Schneider

It was with great sadness that we heard that Rich had passed in an e-mail from Sharon. Over the years we shared many good times with the Schneiders. Rich and I were friends in HS, college, and were in each others wedding parties in 1967. Their son, Chris,is my Godson and Rich was the Godfather of our son Brad. We visited the Schneiders when in WNY and Rich always prepared a great dinner. Our prayers and love to Sharon, Chris, Helen, Heather, and Linda. We miss you, Rich.

I was deeply saddened to read the loss of Rich. He was a driving force of blues music in Western New York for many years and one of the most encouraging people I have met. I recall his encouraging me to keep up my acoustic slide guitar playing and he seemed to always take a picture of me playing wherever I played. Rich's magazine Blues Beat was the best magazine on the subject out there. I got to see Rich present John Hammond Jr, (my favorite acoustic slide guitarist) with a Blues Beat award...

Sharon-

After meeting you Rich in St. Pete several years ago we seemed to cross paths at various Festivals. Rich always emanated that comfortable calm aura when speaking with him, and he loved to share his great stories about so many of our struggling heroes of the Blues. I will keep you and your Family in my prayers.

Sincerely,

Tony Dellaria
East Stroudsburg, PA

I was shocked and saddened by Rich's untimely passing. I met him in Tampa Bay. A great guy & knowledgeable Blues lover. We shall miss him in the photo pits. My deepest sympathies to Sharon.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Sharon and Chris,

I was deeply saddened by the news of Rich's untimely passing. It seems like yesterday we were all standing at the end on B-Wing sharing the ups and downs of the day. My sympathy to you and your family.

I infrequently read the death notices, and like many of Rich's old friends, I was shocked to see his picture on that page of the Sunday Buffalo News on 3/22. We all shared so many great times and laughs in our young adult years and Rich created many of those laughs and smiles from his unique wit and sense of humor. As we get older, memories become more important and our visit with Rich and Sharon and Chris and Fred Hamann a summer ago was a very special time to remember. Now, I am so glad we...

We were sorry to learn of Rich's passing and I shall miss my birding buddy and his friendly smile.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sharon, Chris and the family in this time of sorrow.

Rosemary and Richard Harris

Sharon, I am so sorry to hear of Rich's passing. I've always enjoyed seeing you both at all the blues festivals we attended. Rich made a tremendous contribution to the blues, locally, nationally and
internationally and you both obviously have a 'soft spot' for Canada and the Canadian blues scene. He will be missed very much. My condolences to you and your family.