Richard Rowland Blackwell

I was a penpal with Mr. Blackwell in middle school (around 2019 - 2020) and sadly lost contact a little over the pandemic. I´ve always meant to reach out, and never got the chance. I couldn´t shake the feeling of wanting to find him, and I am deeply sorry for this families loss. I remember how excited he was when I believe his grandson, Noah, was born. I´m nearing the end of high school, and I´ve always wanted to thank Richard for his time. Thank you to his family, and again, I´m sorry for this loss.

I am very thankful that Dick´s daughter Laura visited Cambodia through Youth With A Mission (YWAM), fell in love with its people, and shared the experience with her parents. Dick sponsored several initiatives of BrightStart Learning, the charity my husband and I founded to provide educational assistance to Cambodian children. He became a dear friend around our common interest in assisting disadvantaged children in a country that continues to recover from the setbacks of genocide in the 1970s.

I adored Dick´s inquisitive nature from the moment we met in 2015. He is the first sponsor who asked me, "What else can I do?" That simple question led us to explore new initiatives together. Initially, Dick funded several instructors in math and science subjects to help dozens of BrightStart students pass their Grade 12 national examination.

In 2016, Dick and I brainstormed the design of a scholarship home that would enable young women from remote Cambodian villages to finish high school and beyond. The Mary Blackwell Scholarship Home, in honor of Dick´s mother, has since produced many university and high school graduates. But the capstone feature of Dick´s home design was the gentle introduction of Jesus Christ into their living and studies. Every Buddhist girl who entered the Mary Blackwell Scholarship Home has become a Christian. Nor was Dick a passive sponsor. He loved to encourage the girls in their faith through letters and internet conversations.

"What else can I do?" . . . . Dick provided seed funds to start BrightStart´s Neary Clahan ("Brave Woman") Learning and Wellness Center and our latest vocational education initiative, both with Christ-centered teachings. Dick´s generosity will continue to change the course of many lives in Cambodia for the glory of God.

Dick´s compassion for the underdog was evident in everything we did together, except for one . . . college football. He and my husband Vernon joined in the rivalry between Ohio State and Alabama, and Dick won most of the bragging rights. However, as hard as he tried, he never got Vernon to say "Roll Tide!"

The staff and students of BrightStart Learning send their condolences. My husband and I celebrate the time we had with a dear friend and brother in Christ until we meet again.

Gwen Higaki, Executive Director Emeritus
BrightStart Learning, Inc.

Richard Blackwell was a good Christian man, I know he is in heaven with his best friend Ben. May God bless his family and give them divine peace in their time of sorrow. We will always love you, Richard and cherish every memory. The Goodwin family

Doing work on the apartment he rented out in Cheshire Ct. He was a very delightful individual to have chat about life.