Richard Riley Adams Ditz

1992 - 2022

Richard Riley Adams Ditz passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30 at his home in Watsonville on August 28th, 2022.

Riley attended local area schools and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 2010. He went on to study Horticulture and Welding at Cabrillo College. His proudest accomplishment was when he became a journeyman welder for the Ironworkers Union Local 377 in San Francisco. Riley had many projects and interests. He was always fabricating things out of scrap metal and wood. He grew many varieties of ornamental plants in his greenhouse. He also loved to collect feathers, especially from owls and other birds of prey. Riley was a musician, actor, poet, philosopher, and a talented chef. He worked for a time at Whole Foods as a pizza chef and friends and family would stop by frequently to sample his latest creation. Riley loved to prepare meals for his friends in the makeshift kitchen in his workshop. There was always a meal, music, and a warm place to stay as he opened his home and heart to those in need. He had a brilliantly creative mind and a wicked sense of humor. He loved animals, especially dogs. He compressed a lot of life and love into the short time he was here.

Riley was a wonderful person, and we will all miss him terribly. Ri, you left us way too soon.

Riley is survived by his mother Lora Bate, His father George A. Ditz III, his sister Jeshe and her husband Chris Lafontaine, His brother Crispin Ditz and wife Kim and nieces Vanessa and Carly, his grandfather Richard Lanning, his favorite uncle Steve Bate and Karen, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, his love Kaelene, and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Eva Lanning and his paternal grandparents George A. Ditz Jr. and wife Lorraine Ditz.

A memorial service and celebration of life for Riley will be held at noon on Friday, October 21st at the Corralitos Woman's Club, 33 Browns Valley Rd, Watsonville CA 95076. Feel free to bring mementos and photos.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Habitat for Humanity, a charity that combines two of the things Riley loved the most – helping people with a place to shelter and building things.

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