Richard Vick

Just before sunrise on December 12, 2016, Richard Alan Vick died at his home in Oxford surrounded by loved ones, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.
He was 62.

Rich was born in Virginia on January 16, 1954, the youngest of four children. When he was nine, the family relocated to Riverside, California where his father, Fred Vick worked for Minute Man Missiles as a budget director, and his mother, Mary was a homemaker. He attended California Polytechnical Institute and received his bachelor’s degree in civil and structural engineering in 1972.

Rich came to Durango in 1978 after a cross-country motorcycle trip took him through the area and he liked it so much he decided to stay. He started an engineering firm and in 1980 was joined by a fellow Cal Poly graduate, Bill Jackson, and together they ran Con-Struct Engineering for 23 years. He met his wife, Jean Edson, his neighbor at the time, and they were married on July 18, 1981. They had two daughters, Laine Malena and Alicia Lynn.

Rich left Con-Struct in 2003 to pursue his interests in real estate and property management. He also managed several engineering jobs for the City of Durango including portions of the Animas River Trail system by Rotary Park and an extensive section behind the Durango Mall. He was involved with properties in the Durango Tech Center, BODO Industrial Park, and his most recent property revival of the Bauer Bank Building in Mancos. Always resourceful and meticulous, his motto was “Plan the work, work the plan.”

Rich played as hard as he worked. In the 1990s he was an avid bicyclist, riding in two Iron Horse Bicycle Classic races and a Ride the Rockies bicycle tour. His most relaxed moments were spent with Jean in their hot tub under the stars, on their Rinker twin-engine on Lake Powell with family and friends, exploring the southwest in their RV, and cruising on his Honda Goldwing with his motorcycle buddies. Although he had many things personal and professional still left on his forever-growing checklist, he was filled with peace and gratitude in his last days.

Rich is survived by his wife, Jean, his daughters Laine Walnicki (Glenn) of Buffalo, NY, Alicia Reinhardt (Daven) of Bayfield, CO, three grandchildren, Leena, Archer and Abbey, and his three siblings, Jim Vick, Faye McGuar, and Rebecca Garret. He is preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Alan James Walnicki.

Rich had a sincere interest in people’s lives and he will be truly missed by many. We will do our best to honor him at a celebration of life scheduled for Saturday, January 7; open house 4-5 pm, informal dinner 5:30, music and memories shared throughout. Celebration will be held at the Zink Ranch, 4166 CR 203, Durango, CO 81301. Attire is casual-Hawaiian and motorcycle gear (Speedos optional). Please contact Mark Smith (970-759-3540) or visit Hood Mortuary website for more information.

In lieu of flowers, Rich would want you to watch a sunrise, take a walk on the Animas River Trail, or sip a bourbon.