Richard A. Pirri

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Midwest Funeral Home and Cremation Society - Fort Wayne

1415 West Coliseum Blvd

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Richard Pirri Obituary

Richard "Rico" "Rick" Anthony Pirri of Fort Wayne, Ind., died in his home Sept. 29, 2025, at the age of 74. He was born April 11, 1951, in Chicago and grew up in Coloma.

His son, Anthony Pirri said it well: "Dad was a wealth of knowledge and humor, loved by everyone who met him. He was a die-hard Cubs and Bears fan who loved his sons and his grandkids." Others concur, describing Rick as an encyclopedic fountain of knowledge. Before Google, friends called on Rick 24/7 to settle arguments or bets regardless of the topic. He once said he had "the curse of literacy" and could not pass up a book or newspaper. He remembered all of it.

Children in his life called him amazing. A storyteller, a comforting prop for naps and a "first coach" for toddler baseball with a spot-on pitch that hit the bat every time. Rick saw and heard kids exactly as they are. His laugh, love of music and musicians, from Louis Prima to contemporary, will be remembered by all who knew him. When the guitar came out, young voices were at the ready.

Friendships with bandmates and colleagues endured. A talented bass player with numerous bands including Rico's Band from Milwaukee (which is what they called the Basement Boys, when they played in his home state of Michigan for his class reunion) and the Street Corner Band which toured both regionally and nationally. A stage manager, box office manager and most recently security guard at Sweetwater Sound of Fort Wayne, Rick stayed close to the music.

Characterized by kindness and loyalty, with a heavy dose of wit, "Rico's friendship was relentless." He wrote countless birthday and holiday cards. If you were born, he knew the date and you got a card. His greetings were counted on 100 percent. He was a gentle and generous man who did not even know how to put himself first and could be trusted to "have your back."

He was a beautiful human being who took pride in his Sicilian/Italian heritage. His light made it impossible to feel down. Those who knew his love will be forever grateful for their time in his sphere.

Richard Anthony Pirri is preceded in death by his son, Michael "Mike" James Pirri; his father, Antonino "Tony" Pirri and his mother, Rosalie (nee Marchese) Pirri.

Richard Pirri is survived by his son, Anthony James Pirri; his daughter-in-law, Stacey Pirri-Huckins; his beloved grandchildren: Richard Anthony Pirri, Paul Michael Pirri, Isabelle Marie Pirri and Rosalie Grace Pirri. He is also survived by his brother Anthony "Tony" Pirri and his long-time companion, Rebecca Zwepink-Polstin.

Rick preferred cremation and no formal memorial service. However, there will likely be several pop-up events to recognize and celebrate his life. You are loved, Richard Anthony Pirri! Please consider a donation in his name to the ACLU or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Arrangements by Midwest Funeral Home, Fort Wayne, Ind.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Herald-Palladium on Oct. 10, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Pirri

2 Entries

Mark Orr

October 28, 2025

I was fortunate enough to have played in a band with Rick back in the
day (70s). I was the vocals where he was the bass man, and I believe he
played a nice silver Rickenbacker guitar. During any dry minutes at
rehearsals, he and I would play a game we invented called Stump the
Beatlefreak. Our band did not play any Beatle music as we were more into
hard rock and power bluesey stuff. However, I knew every word of every
Beatle song (says me) and Rick knew every bass line to every Beatle song
(which were often very complicated.) So he might pay an obscurish bassline to
some B song and I would sing it if I could, or vice versa - I would sing a line and
see if he knew the bass part. To me and him it was a fun and good
way to pass the time while some guitar player changed a string or
whatever.

Our band had a pretty steady work schedule in clubs around SW Michigan
to include one place in New Buffalo called The Wayside Inn. It was there
that some punks from and old Tommy James band came in one night and
stole our drummer and pretty much ...well that's how bands end. Me and
the guitar player regrouped a month or two later later with a drummer
who could sing well, and a bass player that I had gone to Vietnam with
and played my Hammond with in my first band. All that, just to say how I
lost track of Rick.

Many years and bands later and I was singin' for the Kentucky
Headhunters as we played in Milwaukee. I don't recall how I knew that
Rick lived there at the time but I looked him up, called him and invited
him to the gig. It was a great but too short reunion, really nice to see
him again. He came up on stage just a few minutes before we started the
show and we spoke briefly. It was great to learn that he was still
thumpin' that bass.

And here I learn that he moved around and had kids and grand-kids and
eventually moved to Ft. Wayne.

This is not the first time I've come to say, I miss that guy.

Rest in peace my brother. I'll see you again in another venue.

My sincere condolences to your family.

Mark Orr

Mark Cupani & Debra Leach Cupani

October 19, 2025

Mark & Rick shared many memories of playing in the band together. All of us were friends in high school. Rick always sent Mark a birthday card every year. We are very sad to know he is gone from our lives now. RIP Rick! We love you.

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