Frederick "Rick" Tanner

1944 - 2013

Frederick "Rick" Tanner

March 2, 1944

January 14, 2013

Our world is a lesser place with the loss of Frederick "Rick" Tanner, who died peacefully at his home on January 14, 2013. He was born March 2, 1944 in Altadena, California.

Rick was a most unusual sort of a guy, attending Flintridge Prep School, graduating from the University of California, Sant Barbara with a degree in History and attaining his Master of Business Administration in International Business from the University of California, Los Angeles. And what was his line of work? Furniture Restoration.

Rick had to be the most educated, professional furniture restorer in the State of Nevada, but he liked working with his hands, he enjoyed the artistic challenge of restoring furniture, and he really enjoyed meeting the flow of new people who frequented his shop-which was his garage.

For years Rick hosted a group of eight to ten men. Various professionals made up the group-a pair of judges, a medical doctor and a sprinkling of psychologists. It was the kind of group where "How are you?" was a serious greeting and question, not a platitude. It was a well-read group, and books were a favorite topic. The best-read man in the group-by far-was Rick Tanner. His television fare seemed to be book shows, political discussions and various documentaries. He wasn't the kind of intellectual that intimidated, though, he was the kind you liked to be around, because he knew so darn much. (I so wish he were reading this.) Curiously (and arguably), Rick proved to be the Alpha member of this distinguished group.

The group met monthly for dinner at Rick's house, and Rick's talent in the kitchen encouraged attendance. Rick was a very capable epicure, creating his own dishes, as often as not. Barbequed Chicken al Carbon, served in his tumbled and tree- limbed back yard, was a Summer favorite.

There is a difference between speaking honestly and speaking bluntly, but Rick managed to combine the two to a remarkable degree. If you were advancing some kind of opinion in Rick's presence you would get back an answer or observation that either questioned or affirmed your position to a degree that you had not thought possible. He was so articulate.

Rick was totally devoted to his dogs. He was a total animal lover and particularly cared for an irascible Jack Russell terrier named Daisy. Employees of the Regional Animal Control picked up Daisy, one day, and kept her locked up. Seems as though Daisy, over the while, had bitten six people and, according to the law, was due to be euthanized. Rick and his friends organized a public protest, attracting both a pro bono private investigator and lawyer-and television cameras. Daisy was ultimately released.

"Oh man she's the greatest, she's my pal," said Rick. "She was just being a Jack Russell."

Rick is survived by his children, Patrick Tanner and Carolyn "Lina" Tanner, the mother of his children, Karen Boeger, grand daughter Ruby Tanner, twin sister, Teresa Bettencourt, younger sister Mary Tanner and brother-in-law Duncan Reed. He was predeceased by his father, Frederick Tanner, Jr., Mother, Bette Burrows Tanner and grandson Tanner Thomas Jensen.

A service of remembrance will be held at a later date.