Wednesday, May 30, 2012


This blog is a tribute to one of Guam's most accomplished waterman:  Rick Appleton. As most of you know,  Rick passed away on Friday, May 25, 2012 while teaching a scuba-diving class on Guam. He was in his element - surrounded by the ocean he loved most.

Rick was one multifaceted man.  He was a coach, paddler, diver, friend, colleague, but his greatest roles of all were as a loving father to his adult children in the mainland and his 11-year-old son Duke and as a loving husband of fellow paddler, Leilani.

With this blog, we hope you'll enjoy tales and share stories of how Rick touched your life.  It may allow his mainland family and friends to see how a two-year stint evolved into a 20-year adventure full of the warmth of paradise.


Please join us on Monday, June 4 at St. Anthony's church. Viewing begins at 9am, Mass at 11am. Memorial will be held 5pm at Matapang Beach in Tumon.
  
If you would like to gift the family with a donation to help with expenses, please click on the donate button located on the top right hand side of this blog.










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5 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 31, 2012 at 8:11 AM

    I was introduced to Rick Appleton in 1999. By my late Coach Johnny Applegate, He told me to go to Matapang Beach and try out one man racing, never getting on a one man before. I met Rick for the first time, without any hesitation, he loaned me his OC1 to use and showed me how to use the pedals. A 500 meter straight away, quickly became a 1000 meter slalom race course, he asked if I knew the race was only a 500 meter (laughing). From that point our relationship formed. He was the first person to take me over the reef on a one man canoe, being 17 years old. I was a little scared that I was going to flip in the deep blue. Simple but wise, I recall Rick saying, “ you flip, you flip, turn the canoe back over and get back on and continue to paddle. But you’ll need to flip that one time to overcome the fear. “He was right.

    Rick and I never paddled for the same club until many years later. You see back then, to be in a club was only an affiliation but not the boundaries. Years later I became President of MPRA and started running races. The biggest supporter and mentor at that time was no other than Rick Appleton. At every race, towing the canoes to and back because my little 4 cylinder truck couldn’t tow the load.

    Some of the best memories I have of Rick are on the one man and off shore distance racing.
    Meeting up with Rick, Annie and Melina just to surf in Piti on one mans and paddle to camel Rock, paddling around coco island in merizo, or Merizo to Agat. The fun part was the relay races from Tumon to Agat or Pago to Merizo.

    Doing the Northern Passage 3 times with him (Pago Bay to Agana Boat Basin 40 miles) 2xs on a 6 man and the last time in 2006 on a 2 man. (Uncle Fred, Rick, Will, Collin, Jason and Keoni and I)

    Rick was also very active in promoting youth paddling in and outside of interscholastic.
    We’ve work together on the federation and GNOC level.

    The one thing that always made me laugh was when Rick says “Matapang”. I am going to miss this great coach/National Coach, paddler, mentor and most importantly a great friend.

    Thank you, Rick for all that you have done for me and the paddling community.
    You and the ladies put Guam back on the map and brought back gold from the Micronesian Games.

    We will miss you!!!

    Joe & Lisha (Ha’ani & Matua) & Animun Tasi

    ReplyDelete
  2. t.May 31, 2012 at 1:36 PM

    Rick was one of the best coaches I have ever had, and I have been playing sports since i was 5 years old! He was an expert paddler, a patient teacher, and funny! We always had so many laughs on the Imua team. One of my favorite memories was the time a couple randomly came up to us after our practice session near Santa Fe Hotel, and asked us if we could transport them and their wedding party to the little island just off shore. Rick was happy to agree, so we all showed up a few days later on the morning of this couple's wedding.

    We divided the wedding party up and took them out on two canoes. After we beached the canoes, we were invited to watch the ceremony. When the officiant got to the part about love being based on deep friendship, I caught Rick & Lei looking at each other through the crowd. They each quietly thumped their chests and tossed out a peace sign. I had to stifle my giggles - and my tears! What a life they shared together!

    I will always remember Rick and smile. Imua!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tom StrohmeyerJune 5, 2012 at 5:18 PM

    Here is a link to a photo gallery on the Guam PDN website of yesterday's memorial for Rick at Matapang Beach:

    Avid Paddler Remembered

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 6, 2012 at 3:39 PM

    Hi, would you please re-post the link?
    Ricks family from the main land shares in your loss. Duke and Leilani- although we have never meet, I pray that you find the strength and peace through friends and family during this difficult time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Friends of RickJune 7, 2012 at 5:59 AM

      Hi.. so glad you were able to see this blog about Rick. He will always be with us in Spirit. Here is the link to the pdn website:

      http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=M0&Dato=20120604&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=206040805&Ref=PH/Paddlers-gather-remember-Appleton?odyssey=mod|defcon|img|Frontpage

      Taliea

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