Dear Colleague, This note is to share with you the passing of Richard ‘Dick’ Sims on Tuesday, April 27th. Four days earlier after a feast, he stopped eating and taking fluids. As an ‘essential care giver’ I have been able to visit him every day. On Tuesday, his breathing was more labored, and I had spent the morning with him, sharing songs, poetry and the silence. At about one, I began my weekly call with David Dunn. We have been working on an article called Rituals in the Field: Nepal. During the call, Richard stopped breathing. So gently, so peacefully. David stood in the place of ‘all the saints’ surrounding us. You were all there with us as we sang ‘Journey on, Journey on’.
I have attached the article which features a ritual Richard led in our 2007 Nepal training program. It weaves together the two great movements in our lives: The Institute of Cultural Affairs and the Possible Human/Possible Society work of Dr. Jean Houston. As Jean said, upon hearing of his passing that Richard was an original, a wise thoughtful soul whose laughter and humor came from a deep source of the absurd. I deeply appreciated his partnership over the last 24 years. (Thank you Lyn Mathews Edwards, Mary Laura and Pam for your nudges). He had decided to support women leaders and was an incredible support to myself. He once told me, ‘His mission was to make me laugh every day! I am able to smile. Blessings Be. I swing back and forth from gratitude and grief.
~~ Janet Sanders
Dear Jan, I’m sad to hear the news about Dick and glad to know that he was surrounded by love and memories in his last moment. Thank you for the Rituals in the Field article. With love
~~ Dharma
Jan, Thank you for sharing the final moments of Richard’s passing. Feel the loving hug I am sending you. The photo catches his soul’s smile and reminds me of weekends at the Creative Community Conferences. I also am reminded of your visit when you were in Florida. May you grieve peacefully as we celebrate this good man with this delightful dry sense of humor. Walk in Peace,
~~ Judi White
Thanks for sharing Dick’s journey “ So gently, so peacefully……in the place of ‘all the saints’ surrounding us.” How hard and also a great gift to be the ‘essential care giver’ of our loved ones and to be present as Dick took his last breath. May the great gift of those 24 years sustain you in gratitude.
~~ Wanda Holcombe
Dear Janet, Fondly remembering my friend with his dry wit from Sparta, Tennessee. I loved the attached Nepal story – Richard invited one of them to stand and become that poet. There was a very long, worrisome pause. I was thinking “Whoa, Richard, what have you done?”With warmth and light for all Dick’s colleagues and friends in Toronto and around the world,
~~ Ken Fisher
May 12, 1972 – Memorial Day – Madison House
Don Hinkelman, Dick Sims, Marilyn and Kim Thornton, Betty Compton, Paige Cousineau and Ken Fisher
My two favorite stories about Richard are:
Coming home from your wedding at the Cook County Courthouse which Ken and I were privileged to witness – Richard talked the whole way home in the limousine and called a number of favorite people to tell them the good news. Some of the familiar ones were Frank and Aimee Hilliard, John and Thea Patterson, and many family members and friends. It was a joyous day and a privilege to be there and share in the celebration. More than a few good friends said, “No way! Really?” and we all shouted, ” Yes, really!”
My second favorite story is that Richard called me on a Saturday evening and said he wanted to talk to me about something. He came over and talked for awhile about various things. Finally, he said, “I am on my way to Canada to be with Jan Sanders”. And I said, “Then you better hurry and get on the road.”.
I think there are some other good stories from Lake Junaluska and the RSI Cadre at the University of South Carolina in the late 60s which worked on integrating the university politics and social structure. Richard was always a wise, genial and kind presence in our many strategy meetings at the Methodist Student Center with Don Bundy, Carol Pierce, Don Bushman and many others.
~~ Mary Laura Jones
I will always remember Dick’s “smiling eyes.” There were many a young woman from Philadelphia to NYC to Hong Kong and beyond who were smitten by his impish and inviting countenance, but you were the one he chose. I’m so thankful you two were in mission for so many years, and deeply appreciate that you have credited a much younger Joe Crocker as the one who helped you to hear “the call” to be the Order. Grace, peace and love,
~~ Marilyn Crocker
Dear Jan, So glad you were able to spend the last hours with Richard sharing songs and poetry. It is a real blessing to be with a loved one at their death for you and the person who died. I experienced Jean Houston’s image of Richard’s humor coming from the absurd when we worked together in Kwang Yung Il in 1975. My Korean name translated to something like potato and Richard always called me spud. May you continue to be able to smile in your grief.
~~ Judith Hamje
Dear Jan, Life is full of so many blessings. And knowing Dick was one of them for me also. And what a blessing it was for you also to have David with you to be present at the moment of his passing. And the Nepal article written on the Ritual Dick lead in Nepal is a blessing for all those who will discover and read it in the future. The image or conceptual framework of the Existential Moment is contentless and timeless. And it includes the process that adds the unitive/Intergal/ Spiritual/ maieutic level (which is also contentless thus replicable for every individual, group or culture.). Thank you for sharing yourself at this moment as you swing back and forth from gratitude and grief,
~~ Jean Watts
In the midst of the sadness of hearing this news, we celebrate the gift of Dick’s life with you. We were never able to work directly with him, but it’s so good to hear from those who had the fortune of doing so. So good you and David were able to journey him on with the song. We keep you in our prayers and trust the legacy of his compassion, passion, and care will continue to move through you and others who knew him or were touched by his living. Grace and peace,
~~ Ellie and Carleton Stock
Dear Jan and David,
I have just finished reading Rituals in the Field: Nepal, a wonderful tribute to Richard and the work of you all. I am fascinated with the unfamiliar language in the section titled “Planning your own Ritual” and would be grateful if you would translate it for me. A possibility story of our own is the repurposing of our garage into al fresco pot luck dining area for friends here in Altamont, now that we have no car and neither Dick nor myself are driving. A friend bought an 8’ portable table we set it up so that about 12-15 can gather, using the driveway as well for social distancing. Thank you one and all,
