Remembering Richard Wailionis

To the family and friends of Richard,

I returned home from Atlanta on Friday to learn that your family member/friend Richard had died on August 19th. I had called his phone number to catch up with him, only to learn from Carolyn that he had died.  I knew he had gone in for a shoulder replacement at the age of 89. It was suppose to be fairly straightforward, but with all things at advanced age, there are always the possibility of complications. 

I thought it would be good that I share with you some of my memories of Richard.

I met Richard at one of the arts and crafts events that occur in our Summerfield, FL community on a regular basis.  For Richard, attending the event was a bit of a chore, but he did come to support his wife Carolyn who wanted to come to the event.  He came by my booth and heard me speaking about the books I had written, and about Scribblers Christian Writers group.  He asked if we could talk after the event, as he had some questions.  God’s providence never ceases to amaze me.  In that providence two people who may have never met, were drawn together. 

We met for a breakfast at a local restaurant, and he shared his thought about a book he was thinking of writing.  He shared that he “had no legacy” to leave for his family, and he wanted something physical by which they might remember him.  He talked about the stories he would tell his daughter when she was young.  And now he wanted to write those stories down, so he could give the story to his granddaughter Ava.

Now Richard was so like so many of us, who at over 70 ( he was already 88 when we met) did not like the modern phone and computer technologies.  So, he did not know how to use  “Word” but was able to write his stories in the form of e-mails he could send to his granddaughter. So he would send/give me the printouts of those e-mails, and I would rescan those e-mails and convert them through the wonders of technology into Word for him to review and correct.

I got to spend at least a dozen meetings with Richard, often at the breakfast restaurant where we could review what he was writing and discuss the illustrations he was hoping to put into the book as well. He also would often drop revisions into the light pole box at the front of my house, not wanting to disturb me.   

I think you all know that Richard was in a great deal of pain all of the time.  His pain issues came from any number of physical ailments. But whether from the pain or just his age, it was easy for him to get frustrated over things that you as a younger person might not understand.   You see, I believe Richard had a real sense of how short life is, and he really wanted to get this project completed.  He also knew exactly what the picture of some of the stories were in his mind, and it took several attempts to get the illustrations to match what Richard had in mind.

Finally in time for Christmas 2022 “Stories for Ava” was finished. I actually was able to deliver the finished copies to him after returning from Atlanta and the meetings with the printer who helped me with the layout and printing of the book.   Hopefully many of you got to  receive copies of that story.  Perhaps you don’t know this, but his story now resides as well in the Library of Congress.  Who knows how many people we learn a little about Richard, because he took the time to share his story.  You will find his story also up on Amazon and on the Scribblers Web Site, meaning his story is available for all to see.  That physical legacy he wanted to leave is completed, but his legacy is much more than just this book. 
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I learned a lot about Richard during those meetings.  I learned of his time in Navel Ordnance disposal…he use to defuse bombs…(yes those things that create  really big boom’s)  Now frankly those were some interesting discussions and I discovered that he actually had worked in a facility/area that I was quite familiar with in Maryland. He had a real pride for having served his country, and he loved the country he was born into. 

I also learned  of his great love for music, especially music from the big band period.  The fact that he both played in and led some of those bands was fascinating.  He even got to direct a music event at our community in Spruce Creek that my wife got to see, while I was away on business.  If you know anything about music you will understand that Richard had a gift, and he got to share that gift with many folks. 

He wanted to work on another book, Stories for Elias. I received 15 chapters of that book, but  we never got to finish that work. But through it all, I learned of his great love for his family.  We spoke often of his first wife who had died, and of Carolyn who had come along side him later in his life.  He was constantly expressing his frustration that he was  physically unable to do all the things he wanted to do,  and his desire that his daughter and others in his family would know of his care for them. 

I told Richard that I view life like a tapestry.  The creator of that tapestry is God, and when we see the tapestry it is often a view of the backside.  It is filled with knots and frizzies, and we often see our thread and it seems to be filled with those flaws and breaks.  But from time to time we get to see the front side of the tapestry and the art displayed there is amazing.  And we get to see our thread, and the role it is playing in that beautiful story God is weaving.  I am really glad my thread and Richard’s met.  Even though it was for a relatively short time, his life story, now has impacted mine.  He thought he had no legacy but I can tell you he has a legacy larger than he could ever imagine. 

So, for you, his family and friends, remember Richard, the good and the bad, but know this, He loved you all dearly.  He took the time to share a little of his story with me and with you.  His stories for Eva now is in reality. But even more so, I believe Richard’s life is part of a much larger story. We all have a story to tell, to the glory of God.   Richard’s life is a story worthy to remember and to talk about.  He was my friend, and I am missing him.  Another author penned these words “Not all tears are bad.”   There are tears today but also stories that we will laugh at because Rochard’s story is rich with humor and wit. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts about Richard. I am grateful in God’s providence his life intersected with mine.  He made my life better and I suspect many of you will say the same.

​Sincerely,
Charles de Andrade