Richard P. Blaha Sr.

Richard P. Blaha Sr. peacefully went home to his Lord and Savior on June 9, 2024, at the age of 79, surrounded by his 4 children and many of his grandchildren. Richard "Rich" was born Richard V. Aydelotte on October 4, 1944, to Richard V. Aydelotte and Ardis Mae Griffin in Oakland, CA. He was raised and loved by his mother, Ardis and his step-father, Albert Blaha. Upon his 18th birthday Rich proudly made the decision to become legally a Blaha, a name he carried the rest of his life with great joy.
Rich lived on the Monterey Peninsula for over 60 years, making Marina his home for the last 27 years. He attended Monterey High School and graduated in 1964. He married Judith A. Sweet on December 17, 1965 and had four beautiful children. After 10 years of marriage, they divorced but remained friends until his passing. Rich made a career in offset printing for 40 years as an excellent press operator. He started his career at Rapid Blue Print Printers, was a manager of operations at KP Graphics in Salinas, and worked at other print shops in San Diego and the Monterey Peninsula throughout those forty years. He was also a reserve police officer for the City of Seaside in the 1970s. He had the pleasure of working there with his brother-in-law, Marv Dike, where they made many arrests and had several successful sting operations. This time in his life gave him great pride and memories he would share for years to come. In 1994, he realized his dream of owning his own printing business and opened Monterey Bay Printing in Marina until 2004 when he then retired. Rich was always a hard worker and even in retirement he could not stand idle. He was a driver at Hertz Rental Car for 8 years and then for Lyft and Uber, where he proudly had over 15,000 total trips and gave himself the nick names of "Super Uber" and "Swyfty Lyftie". His "regulars" loved him.
His greatest joy in life and the reason for life was his 4 children, 18 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. Given the opportunity he would tell anyone and everyone about all of them, and if you had enough time, he would show you pictures of them on his phone.
Rich was diagnosed with tongue cancer in January 2023, and since that time he did what he could to be here with his children and grandchildren. One of his main goals was to make it to his granddaughter Vanessa's wedding this last May 24th. He not only made the wedding but was one of the last revelers there. The pure happiness was evident with all those that stopped by to shake his hand and to tell him what a beautiful family he created. He left the wedding that evening incredibly happy and fulfilled.
Rich is survived by his daughter, Diana Locicero; son, Paul (Kim) Blaha; daughter, Amy (Craig) Furman; and daughter, Julie (Carl) Freese. His 18 grandchildren, Mathew (Nancy), Brianna (Daniel), Jessica (Travis), Rebekah (David), Cody, Amanda, Taylor (Brandon), Vanessa (Travis), Savannah, Hannah, Isabella (German), Logan, Anthony, Nicholas, Colby, Gina, Melanie and Aidan and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his five siblings, Judy Kuehn, Patty Hoffman, Jim Blaha, John Blaha and Peter Blaha. He is predeceased by his parents, Ardis and Al Blaha.
A celebration of life will take place on June 23, 2024 from 1 to 4pm, at Soper Field Clubhouse, 220 Coe Avenue, Seaside, CA. Family and friends are invited to come celebrate his life and share memories. Lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you plant daisies in Rich's honor. It was one of his favorite flowers and he said he hoped Jesus would let him have a mountain of them when he reached heaven.