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Richard Bligen Obituary
RICHARD A. BLIGEN (Age 38)
Died March 18, 2007 in his home in Northwest Washington, DC. He is survived by his partner, Jim Manning, as well as a large circle of family and friends.
Richard lived a life of many passions, but the biggest of these was cooking. He loved to entertain and delight guests with multi-course meals, drawing on culinary traditions from around the globe. He was known for arriving at the homes of friends and whipping up exotic creations, seemingly out of thin air.
Richard also loved to read. At any given time, he would have read over half of the books on the New York Times Top 100 Best Sellers list. People who knew him outside the kitchen remember him carrying books around. Richard was also an avid reader and collector of comic books.
Richard was born July 8, 1968 in Charleston, SC, and grew up in Hilton Head Island, SC. He graduated magna cum laude from Gardner-Webb College, Boiling Springs, NC in 1990. He received a master's degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC in 1996. He was employed as a psychologist at St. John's Community Services, Washington, DC, where he won the "Employee of the Year" award in 2004. He resided in the area for 7 years.
A gathering to "Remember Richard with Food" is planned for a Saturday, March 24, 2007 in the home of Tom and Lisa Goodkind, Potomac, MD. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to consider making a donation to Capital Hospice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Bligen
Robyn R LaFears
April 18, 2007
Richard, I will always Thank You for the compassion you showed to my brother Delaney.
We will miss you!
Zina Dixon-Alston
April 9, 2007
Although years have passed us by, your profoundness has always stayed with me.
Love you much. Cousin Zina
George GILLESPIE
April 5, 2007
Richard was a class act. I still look at an empty table at a our favorite watering hole and expect to see him seated, engrossed in his latest readings. I regret that I never had the opportunity to taste his cooking. In another lifetime, I suppose.
Rodney Seabrook
April 1, 2007
Even though we"ve lost touch since you left Charleston, I still have fond memories of those days when we traded comics and watched MTV .Now I'm proud to know of of your success and saddened by your loss. Excelsior!
GLORIA JAMES
March 30, 2007
Hi Jim, sorry to hear of your lost. It's been many years since your departure from VA but we still talk about you. I still cherish my "Glo rious Hat" disk that you made for me. My prayers are with you.
Mannah David Barnett
March 24, 2007
Thanks Richard for all your kindness.Each time I visit you and Jim you guys always made me feel at home.You are so wonderful and so is Jim. He is an angel.Yes we still have angels in our mist.Good bye Richard. We shall meet again.
Stephen Taylor
March 24, 2007
Dearest Richard, a wonderful friend. Your warmth and generosity are a gift to us all. Your love will fill our hearts forever. Love, Steve
Kelvin Williams
March 24, 2007
Thanks Richard for being such a gracious host and friend. You will be missed!
Ron MacInnis
March 24, 2007
It was always a pleasure on a Spring or Summer afternoon to run into Richard in Dupont Circle. He usually had several books with him and loved to talk about what he had either just purchased or just read. His gentle smile and the kindness in his eyes always left me feeling good. It was a pleasure to participate with family and friends to remember what a unique and special person he is.
MaryAnn Johnson
March 24, 2007
Richard,
Your kindness will always be remembered and your thoughts will live forever in our hearts. You will be greatly missed for your soft spoken manners and kind words of encouragement.
Adela Rolle
March 24, 2007
You were very special to us, you have touched us with your tender heart, your forever smiling face, and the love you exhibited to the Indivuals you had at St John's.
michaek brown
March 24, 2007
We @ Bayne House will really miss you rest in peace Richard
ola akinyode
March 24, 2007
may your soul rest in peace
Mabel Johnson
March 24, 2007
There has been a void in the homes and in the lives of some of us at SJCS. RIP
Precious Myers-Brown
March 24, 2007
Richard I will never forget our "couch conversations!!!"
Kim Walker
March 24, 2007
Richard made a sweet potatoe cheese cake pie that would make you smack your mama. He might have been a quiet soul but he took his gifts from God and shared it with the world.
susan feinberg
March 24, 2007
We miss our neighbor and friend, Richard. There were so many more great meals to cook and eat, and recipes to share... We feel lucky to have gotten to know you. sue and john.
Arthur Ginsberg
March 24, 2007
Richard, it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with you at St. John's Community Services. You were an outstanding individual.
Paul Houston
March 24, 2007
Richard was a warm caring person who loved people and people loved him. I will remember him when I start my books
Thomas Johnson
March 24, 2007
We truly miss the good times and good food. We recall the various meeetings and rhe many professional contributions by Richard. His expertise and warm heart will be missed.
Thomas & Alice Johnson
St. Johns Community Services
Robert DeVeaux
March 24, 2007
You'll Be Missed!
Love Your Cousin,
Linard
Kevin Noble
March 24, 2007
I love you Richard and will truly miss you. Your cousin Kevin L. Noble, Sr.
dan goodkind
March 24, 2007
Richard was a very good man and a great cook
Julia Goodkind
March 24, 2007
Richard was such a gentle, kind soul, who spoke more with his quiet manner than anyone I've ever met. I feel privileged to have been related to him.
Jackerleen Walker
March 23, 2007
To God be the glory for the great things Richard was allowed to do! Jim, my heart is filled with love for you, your partner and the family. "Know That The Best Is Still Yet To Come"
Paul Mason
March 22, 2007
What a beautiful special person you were and Thank you for all the special times and talks we had. Jim I was sorry to hear of Richard's passing. My prays and thoughts are with you and his family.God Bless.
Stephen Lowe
March 22, 2007
Thanks Richard, for just being there. We'll always love you.
Steve & Paul
Chris Goodkind
March 22, 2007
Ricards favorite thing to do is COOK. He has the most cook books a person could ever have!!!!!!!! Richard made the most excited meal and very tasty too! Also he was nice to every one and treated everyone as his own equal or more!!!!!!
Chris Goodkind
March 22, 2007
From Chris,
I love Richard. He was a very kind person and loved cooking. He loved Cody and everyone in the family.I very much missed Richard. I love Richard
walter carrillo
March 22, 2007
I'am richer by having known this beautiful soul named Richard ,who I will always remember with those big brown eyes and his beautiful demeanor.God is so lucky to have him back.
Peaches Pearson
March 22, 2007
Jim,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Thanks for allowing me to enter you and Richard's wonderful world. Thanks for sharing your loving circle of friends and family with my daughter and I. The first time I met Richard, he introduced me to his AWESOME talents in the kitchen and I ate TOO much! We always have the BEST time at your home, because the two of you made us feel so welcome. I will cherish Richard's warm soft words of wisdom and that big smile for a lifetime. I can only pray to GOD that I will someday find the kind of love and happiness the two of you shared. I also pray that you're able to pull your strength in the difficult days ahead from those wonderful memories with Richard. Please remember we love you and will always be here for you.
Kim Walker-Bluford
March 22, 2007
Richard made a sweet potatoe cheese cake that would make you smack your mama! Richard might have been a quiet soul but he took the gifts that GOD gave him and lived passionately & shared it with every soul met. I know he is the head chef in heaven. Cook on Richard!
Benjamin Barnes
March 21, 2007
On behalf of Team 3 with the Life Option Program (SJCS) I would like to extend our deepest sympathy on the passing of Richard. He will be greatly miss. We will remember Richard for his quiet manner. Just know that "Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal"
Monique Armstead
March 21, 2007
I always enjoyed talking to Richard about his travel ventures. He had a great passion for travelling and cooking. He was a very kind and gentle person. We shared many jokes within the halls of St. John's Community Services. He shall be missed by all. I encourage all who knew him to treasure those soft spoken words of wisdom and encouragement that he always offered his friends and those who crossed his path.
Peace
Erwin Bligen
March 21, 2007
Lisa and Tom,
Please forward me a telephone number so I can talk to you all personally. My email adress is [email protected] and my number is 404-312-2196.
Erwin Bligen
Erwin Bligen
March 21, 2007
Thank you all for accepting my brother into your families and allowing him to be a part of your lives. He was indeed a humble and special person to everyone in our family. We will all miss him dearly.
Love, Erwin
Shirley Smith-Yates
March 21, 2007
Richard always had a timid smile on his face. I remember the first time that I met him at Michigan Park and at that time he was sharing his lunch with those who wanted to try somethimg new. Eventhough, we didn't work together, I will always think of him as family. Miss you and may the sweet memories that are engraved in our hearts keep smiles on all of the faces of the people in which he touched. God Bless You.
Kim Yates
March 21, 2007
You will truly missed. May you be in good company because I know they are.
Jackie Brigman
March 21, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Anita King
March 21, 2007
Richard was a gentle and kind person to have known. He was also a dedicated employee of St. John's Community Services. Although I did not work directly with Richard, I still remember his quiet presence.
I wish Richard's family, partner, and friends a lifetime of wonderful memories. Richard will truely be missed.
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