Rick was well loved, inspiring, impactful, colorful, brilliant, and charming. His art, poetry, music, dance, and unique style are a lasting legacy here in the city of subdued excitement and beyond. He had a passion for guitars, bikes (etc.!), and for maintaining a remarkably good quality of life while living with Parkinson's Disease for thirty-one years.

Rick was born in St. Maries, Idaho to Lucy (Peterson) and Curtis Hermann, his sister Dianne, and his brother Ron. The family moved to Long Beach, CA a year and a half later. There Rick developed a lifelong love of surfing and watching the ocean waves.

Rick's parents divorced when he was just five. Lucy and stepdad Bob Carlson moved with Rick to Whidbey Island in time for Rick's junior year at Langley H.S. where he played basketball and was involved in H.S. literary projects. Lucy and Bob adopted a 4-year-old boy, Ron, whose family were members of the Upper Nicola band in B.C. , "Little Ron" to his new family. His love for his new little brother led Rick to study Northwest Coast Indian art and the Lashootseed language.

He went to WSU with the intention of going into veterinary medicine and found literature to be way more interesting than chemistry. After some time regrouping in Mexico with his sister, he came back to the Northwest and graduated from UW with an English degree. He studied film, wrote film and restaurant reviews, and made lasting friendships. He worked for Adventure Travel magazine in Seattle, cooked at Mother Morgan's restaurant, started Blue Moon Catering, did editing and proofreading for Melmoth publishing, spent as much time as possible making art, playing his guitar and biking, and then met Lee. They moved to Atlanta for two years, got married, had their son, Eli, and moved, first back to their cabin near Index, WA and then to Bellingham. He worked at S.P.I.E. until 2002 when Parkinson's pushed him in another direction ~ his full-time job became focusing on having a good and productive life with P.D. He published 5 books (poetry and prose), coordinated with Pam Kuntz to start a "Dance for PD" class, sang and played guitar, wrote songs (one of which has become a favorite hymn at BUF), participated in pedaling for Parkinson's at the YMCA, and supported and inspired many in the Parkinson's community and the rest of us as well.

He is dearly missed by his wife, Lee Willis, their son, Eli Hermann and partner Annie Grace, brother, Ron Carlson, Aunt Marian Peterson, much-loved cousins, 5 nieces, and 2 nephews and many many friends. We raise a toast and celebrate a kind and talented man who embraced life fully and will not be forgotten.

If you would like to make a donation to honor Rick, please consider the Whatcom Family YMCA (https://www.whatcomymca.org/), NWPF (https://nwpf.org/) or APDA (https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/northwest/) all of which have offered us valuable support and do wonderful work in our community and the world.

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

Published by Cascadia Daily News from Jan. 19 to Jan. 31, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Hermann

Sponsored by Funeral & Cremation Care - Bellevue Branch.

22 Entries

Barbara Gilday

February 14, 2025

I take my dog to the dog park in Fairhaven several times a week and then over to "visit Rick" in the Marine Park, where Lee, persisted with the Port Authority and had part of one of his poems inscribed on 4 bulkheads: "Here is sea, Here is sky, Here is Life, Listen." Every time I'm there, I ask people what they think of it. Unanimously they assert their appreciation for it. I miss Rick's wit and wisdom, his kindness and insight. He was a very good guy. Barbara Gilday

Sharon Monteiro

January 12, 2025

Thinking of you, Lee and Eli and wishing you all the best. Rick was a good man. I remember him speaking At the debates.

Carol Piche

December 4, 2023

What an exceptional life. My condolences to Lee.

Mary Jean Van Almen

August 27, 2023

Have thought of you two a bit the past couple of years...

Sharon MONTEIRO

April 4, 2023

Rick was a good man and a pleasure to know. Blessings to you and may you remember the good times.

Rachel Mehl

February 19, 2023

I did not know Rick well but I always enjoyed his poetry and hearing him read. This is my favorite of his poems.

Nooksack

On the flood
of the spring melt,
this river mothers me,
works her fingers
into my bones,
rocks me.
Coming cold
off the glacier,
she closes
her flashing eyes
at night,
dreamless, cool,
urgent.
There are reasons
to live, she tells me.
Good reasons
to stay alive.

Lee

February 2, 2023

Petra

January 31, 2023

Laughing Chi Gong with Rick, Lee and all of us attending our weekly tai chi class at the Y will always be in our hearts. Miss you Rick. RIP.

Sharon Belk-Krebs

January 26, 2023

Dear Lee,
I'm so sorry to hear this. I actually still have a t-shirt that you and Rick brought me years ago when I baby sat Andy dog for a trip you and Rick were on. We originally fostered Andy and your great son Eli decided, after studying what kind of dog he'd like to have, that a black and tan cocker, Andy, would be a great dog to have. I've loved running into you and Rick occasionally and hope we see each other again somewhere. I think the last time I saw you both was at a Kirtan gathering. I have such fond memories and wanted you to know that you, Rick. Eli, and yes Andy, are a truly fond memory in my life. Love to you, Sharon

Marian Peterson

January 26, 2023

It is hard to realize that Rick is no longer with us. I last saw him in July of 2022 on my July 18th birthday celebration of 97 years. Rick gave me a poem which I will aways treasure as a meaningful gift from him to me, his aunt. Rick and I were both Literature Majors in College and we shared a love of the written and spoken word. I have all of his books of prose and poetry which I often read. I will miss him very much, but I am so glad that I do have so many of his written words as well as many happy memories of times spent together.

Jamie Olsen

January 24, 2023

Dearest Lee,
I am so sad to hear of Rick's passing. What a tremendous loss for you, Eli, and your family.
I treasure memories shared with Rick listening to his stories and music. Or some unexpectedly wonderful conversation with this bright, compassionate, thoughtful and kind person. He inspired me in so many ways! May his light continue to shine on you and Eli through the coming transition. Sending so much love!

Gloria

January 24, 2023

Lee I am so sorry however I think it is a blessing for both of you. Your trying to make him better was such a gift to him. We have been missing you. Take care and it is one little step at a time.

Bobi Pachano (Bobi Baggins of Rivendel)

January 23, 2023

I am so so sorry to hear of Ricks passing!! I loved hearing his read his poems to our Sanga.
Lee, my heart goes out to you!!! I will forever remember our little Sanga Tea gatherings when Rick would read his poems.

Vicki and Shelley Fleming

January 23, 2023

Dear Lee and Eli,

I am so grateful to have had a cousin like Rick. He's always been a dear member of our family-providing music and poetry to our family gatherings. I so loved the nature hikes we started doing the last few years. Rick shared my love of nature, and I will feel his spirit when out for a walk. Shelley and I will miss him.

Barbara Gilday

January 22, 2023

Rick was a one of a kind guy. He was creative, a deep, thinker, kind to people and animals. He was brilliant and wrote wonderful, poetry and songs. And yes, I love the hymn that is now a part of our hymnal. He could flip a thought in an instant into a quirky, funny turn. He cared deeply for his wife, Lee, and their son, Eli, and their extended family and friends. His tender heart produced not only wonderful poetry for those of us who were listening, but beautiful heartfelt love poems to Lee for birthdays and other occasions. Together, Lee and Rick made the most extraordinary love story in the many years that he lived with Parkinson´s. Rick will be a legend for those of us who knew and cared for him. His determination to live as fully as he possibly could right up to the end was an inspiration. He will always be with us. Barbara Gilday

January 21, 2023

To Lee, Eli and all who loved and knew Rick I send my most sincere condolences. Rick's love of life was ever present in so many ways both in his words and actions. Memories will be another blessing from him.

Martha Rogers

Planted Trees

Klara Weis

January 20, 2023

Oh Lee, I am so sad to read this. What a lot of fun you all had inspite of this disease and I will remember him with joy riding his tricycle . Sending a big hug with love from Klara Weis.

eileen m galer

January 20, 2023

rick will be missed. i am honored to have known him and experienced his poetry. love to his family

Martha Rogers and family

January 20, 2023

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
My heart goes out to you and Eli, other family and friends. Wish I could give you a big hug.

Flip Breskin

January 20, 2023

What a lovely man he was!!! I remember his dances with Pam, and his kindness to me. May his memory be a blessing!

Anastacia Lundholm

January 20, 2023

Rick´s creativity and passion for life inspired me. His poetry moved me, made me laugh, cry, and stop in amazement, serially. His was a life well-lived, and a death well done. Another soul sings in the universe. Rest in joy.

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