Rick Mercier

A lot of people think of life as a book, each page a day in our lives. For me, I like to think of it as a quilt. Books tend to be written by one person with a beginning, middle, and an end. They are carefully edited and polished before being put out there for the world to see. A quilt, however, can be fashioned out of many different materials and by many people at once or over time. They take shape one square at a time, each piece connecting to the other to form a beautiful story.

Rick’s life was very much a quilt shaped by every person he met and experience he had throughout his life. His quilt began the day he was born, February 12, 1974. Family was important to him his entire life. He often spoke about the times he shared with his cousins, which usually involved some shenanigans and occasionally some injuries.

As he grew up and began school, he met more friends, many he kept contact with over the years. Their adventures together continued to shape him and build his quilt. From weekends at deer camp to trips to the beach, ball hockey, and neighborhood fights, Rick loved to be outdoors. He was full of stories from those years and they brought a smile to his face when he talked about them.

In his teenaged years, Rick really became a protector, always willing to do what he could to help those he cared for. Something he did his entire life. His sister, Rami, and her friends were the targets of some of his pranks, but only he could pick on them. He once shared a story of how the bus driver refused to let him off the bus until Rami had a good enough head start home. He was always laughing about the things he did to her and her friends growing up.

He would wow the boys with his stories of trips to Canada, cruising the streets in fast cars with Brian Gosselin, and settling disagreements the old fashioned way. He talked about his days of playing soccer, broomball, hockey, and ball hockey. It would move him to laughter as he remembered the things he and his buddies would get into. From shock collars to exploding trash cans, ravioli straight from the can - something he never gave up, there was no shortage of stories. More squares in his quilt.

With Amy, who he loved dearly, he was honest about his previous escapades and what he had learned from each of them. He knew he had not been a perfect husband in the past nor was he a perfect father, but he had learned a lot about himself in the time since his divorce and knew what he wanted in their relationship. He made sure to do his best to be the best father and partner that he could be. Each of his past experiences shaping him and growing the quilt. They were an equally matched pair, neither letting the other get away with anything and always having fun. Rick’s wise-guy antics was an equal match for Amy’s quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor. People have often said they were a perfect match, both lucky to have found each other.

Rick had become the most dedicated, supportive, and loving father a child could ever ask for. He did his best to be at as many sporting events, school activities, and special moments that his children had while balancing his responsibilities as a parent and working to provide for their needs and wants. He cherished his time with his kids more than anything in the world. He enjoyed playing games, talking to, teasing, and just being with his family; thankful for every second he had with them. He didn’t take any of it for granted. When he began sharing his life with Amy, he was thankful for her providing an opportunity for his children to stay or visit anytime they wanted allowing him to spend far more time with them than he had been able to in many years. Every moment spent with them became a new square in his quilt.

He spent countless hours talking about football with Jacob, speculating about the NHL draft with Sam, and chatting with Ryan about the NBA. With Connor, he talked cars and racing. One of his most cherished memories was having had the opportunity to take all four of the kids and Amy on a cruise for a week to the Caribbean. Together they shared dinners, shows, concerts, and so many laughs. Visiting NYC with the boys and creating his own walking pizza tour of NYC was a highlight. That trip is also when it was decided that Amy and Jake would each be in charge of a group on future excursions because the others always got too nervous when their cabs went a different route. Incorporating each moment into his quilt every day.

His love and interest in sports helped push him to help restart the local Babe Ruth and American Legion junior baseball teams with his best friend, Duane "DJ" Johnson, whom he considered a brother. Together, the two of them coached dozens of young men on the diamond. In his final year coaching, Rick helped to lead their junior baseball team to a State Championship and a respectable 4th place finish in the regional tournament. He took great pride in being able to coach alongside his oldest son, Jacob, that summer. He was very proud of him for stepping into that role and knew he would be an amazing coach - which he has proven to be winning another two State championships and a Regional Championship since Rick’s passing. Each player, coach, and game another square in his quilt.

While his life was cut short, his quilt will continue to grow as Rick’s impact on those who knew him continues to shape them and those whose lives they touch. The countless squares that helped make up the quilt of Rick’s life will last forever in the hearts of those who created it alongside of him.

Continue to speak his name and share your stories with those important to you. In doing so, you will help to incorporate him into your own quilts and theirs.