Larry Klein

Just about a week ago I phoned up Rick when I learned of his impending surgery. He wanted to delay the operation to his birthday. Now I am having mixed emotions about having urged him not to put it off. We will all miss his spirit and drive in keeping our classmates "re-united" on our many special occasions. His memory will live on in our future reunions.  I will miss the service Sunday as I'm on the road to west coast. Rest in peace, Rick. I'm sure he'll be up there organizing all of our other fallen classmates.

Laura Reid (Pease)

I am in shock.  The loss of our dear Rick is almost unthinkable.  He loved us all and always wanted to find our "lost" classmates to urge them to get to the next reunion.  He was so accomplished, yet so humble; we will miss him immensely but will soldier on in his absence and in his memory.  Rest in peace Rick, the dear friend of each and every member of the class of '64.

Sandy Steele (Bauman)

John and I were so saddened to hear about Rick's passing. He was the "cheerleader" of the Class of 64, and we will all miss him forever.  We need to live everyday to the fullest, just like Rick did! 

Philip Spiess

I, too, am in shock, as I think we all are.  I last spoke with Rick through e-mail, when he was urging me to attend the 2016 Reunion (which, unfortunately, I couldn't do).  As so many have already said, he was not only the glue which held our class together through all of these years, but he also contributed so much to Walnut Hills High School, encouraging others to do so as well.  To say he will be missed is a gross understatement.  As Dexter Dixon put it in impeccable WHHS Latin, "Requiescat in pace."

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

There has been an outpouring of expressions on Facebook.  This picture was posted by Stu Levy, taken at Rick's house on Rose Hill on 10/13/16.

Nancy Messer

For anyone planning to attend the funeral, don't forget that Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend - Fall Back.  Many classmates will be seeing each other again, this time for a very sad emotional reason.  Rick was our friend and leader.  All of us will miss him very much.

Harold Merse

I, as with all of you, just can't believe that Rick has passed.....he was the one of the ones to go on forever.  I feel that but can't say that a light has gone out for our class.....but it hasn't.....the WHHS website as a beacon must continue... truly a beacon for our class and for him. I will pray for him, his family, his friends and our class.

Rest in peace Rick Steiner

Laura Reid (Pease)

Dear Classmates,

For those of you who do not have access to the Cinti. Enquirer, the obit this morning said that visitation at Weil Funeral Home begins at 12:30 (with the service starting at 2).  Also, friends are welcome to call on the family from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.Sunday at 4044 Rose Hill.  See you there if you are able to come.  What a loss to us all and especially to the Steiner family.

Helen Sayrs (Hurley)

I am still in shock to hear of this news.  Rick is one who lives on forever!  He now is gathering together and entertaining all our WHHS '64 classmates who have preceded him in Heaven.  They'll be there to welcome him with open arms.  He'll be in our hearts always -- he is unforgettable.  

Evan Burkholder

So very sad. Fond memories of Rick remain from HS days. His passing brings home the etherial nature of life for all of use who are a certain age. My thoughts and prayers are with Rick and his family.

Michael Hunting

I can not add anything other than let's all listen to Jersey Boys. He was a creative genius that will be missed by the entire world.

Peter Crockett

What sad news. Rick certainly inspired me to attend my first reunion this year--and made me feel so welcome there, a number of times. Condolences to his family especially, and to us all.

Mary Vore (Iwamoto)

I am also shocked - he was so full of life at our WHHS reunion in June.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his two wonderful sons who shuttled us to and from Dave's house on Friday evening.    They were charming and professional - just like their father.  Indeed, Rest in Peace, Rick. 

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Cincinnati Enquirer link: 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/history/lives-remembered/2016/11/03/cincinnati-arts-patron-broadway-producer-rick-steiner-dies-69/93267428/

Rick Lindsey

I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of our friend Rick. Rick urged me to attend this past summer's reunion because we don't know how many more we will be able to attend.I am truly upset that I did not heed his  message.Good bye to a great person and a life long friend,he will be missed.

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

OMG I am reeling from the shock of seeing your post Gail! Rick has been the most important constant of our class reunions, the moving and guiding force keeping us all together. I was unprepared, as I'm sure we all are, for this sad news. Trying to absorb the shock and sending love and condolences to his family. He was loved and will be missed by many. My mother adored him when she worked for the beginning of the WHHS alumni association.  He was tireless, generous and such an all around good guy.  

Becky Payne (Shockley)

Thanks so much for sharing the sad news, Gail. I was also stunned and greatly saddened to hear it. What an amazing talent and generous spirit! We will all miss him, and I will indeed make a memorial contribution to the Performing Arts Fund.

Michael Weiner

I am in Israel and I just got the news. I am overwhelmed with with this loss- one of my very best friends in the world. I thought he would always be there to call when I needed to talk- at AV 1 0867- the same number he kept since the 4th grade. I will miss him so much! 

Mary Benjamin

LIke all of you, I feel heartbroken. I can't imagine life or Cincinnati or our class without Rick. I've known him almost my whole life, starting on Rose Hill and North Avondale school and going up to the present. He just left me a message on my birthday Tuesday, singing the birthday song. He could only sing part of it because he was short of breath, but it was pure Rick - totally sweet and kind of wry. He said, "Well, you're older than me now for a week." Many of you probably know that his birthday is Tuesday Nov 8th. I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to attend the funeral and gathering afterwards on Sunday. May his memory be a blessing. I know it is. Sending my condolences to all of our class as this affects us all and especially to Jan, Duke and Ace.

Steven Levinson

In October 1999, three months before Lynn died, she and I were in NYC for a consult with the cancer honcho at Memorial Sloan Kettering (who looked Lynn straight in the eye and said that he expected her to live for a very long time "and die of something else").  We very much wanted to see the revival of Death of a Salesman, starring Brian Dennehy, which was playing at one of Rick's theaters, although he wasn't producing it.  The show was sold out.  Rick vetoed that, cut through the red tape,  and found good seats for us -- guaranteeing payment for the tickets with his own credit card and asking us please not to forget to swap our card for his!  That was such quintessential Rick.  He pulled rabbits out of hats. He sprinkled acts of kindness and kinship like pixie dust.  A long life is a life lived to the fullest, and Rick lived for a very long time indeed.

Joyanne Page (Christian)

I just am so shocked beyond words. Because of Rick I have felt to closer my classmates than I did when we were in school.  He was the highlight of all our reunions and never forgot anyone.

Chuck Cole

I am heartbroken and share deep sadness with all of you.  Rick was one of the first people I met when we moved to Cincinnati in 1955, at the start of 4th grade.  My grandparents lived almost across the street from Rick's family.   I couldn't have remembered his phone number (thanks Mike), but when Rick and I first met, the 1 in the 3rd position had not yet been added to Cincinnati phone numbers and area codes were still in the future.  I remember sharing with him going to ball games at Crosley Field.  

At one of my birthday parties before we all started at WHHS, Rick wanted to bring a present but his parents were out of town.  Ever inventive, he went to the cellar, rumaged around, and come up with a fine Kenner Products toy twenty years before any of us heard of Luke Skywalker and Kenner's name became so much more familiar as the distributor for all Star Wars toys.  He wrapped it in a kleenex box, using newspaper.  In it were three squirt guns--not your standard kind but ones that had a knob on the top near the front.  You could adjust the knob so the water stream would go in any direction even though you continued to point straight ahead.  I wonder if any of these can be found in collectors' hands.

We are all so grateful to Rick for producing (and directing, and starring in) our reunions, this website (we are now at page 100 of the forum), the videos--he really was at the heart of making me feel that the Class of '64 was special, different from all others.  Current friends can't believe that a high school reunion could be something to look forward to (yes Phil, I know that a preposition is the wrong part of speech to end a sentence with). I wish I'd started to attend these sooner than I did (I've been to the last three) but am so happy that we all gather together every five years or so.  Perhaps we can work together to make the next reunion one that draws together the largest number of us ever.  

Below is a sixth grade photo of the North Avondale School Class of '58, which Rick and I shared with many of you.  I think the photo has been posted in this forum before along with the numbers and circles (actually elipses)--does anyone have a copy of the photo without these?

Thank you Rick for your friendship and all you have done for all of us.  

Jerry Ochs

All the world's a stage...

Nelson Abanto

Brothers and sisters,

The obituary in the Times is really good:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/theater/richard-steiner-producer-of-broadway-hits-dies-at-69.html?hpw&rref=obituaries&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

I look forward to seeing you all Sunday.

Anthony Malone

This is very sad news about the passing of Rick Steiner.   He truly was one of the Golden Eagles of '64.  A true lover of the arts and Walnut Hills High School.    Spread those golden wings and fly high.   Rest in peace dear friend and classmate.   Looking back,  it was a pleasure working with Rick on the various class reunions. Fly high dear friend.   Sursum ad summum.