It is very hard for me. The days are long and hard to be without him. Many people say that time heals but I just don't believe it. My memories are all that I have now and will cherish forever but I still have the urge to pick up the phone and try to call him at home or at work to see what he'd like for lunch. Just wishing I could call him and hear his voice tell me "Turkey on Rye with Lettuce and tomato". I'd take it to him in a second.

I have been sititng here remebering the times I have been at the Family reunions when I was younger. Riding on the back of dad's Virago as I grew up. Always so proud to call him my "Daddie".

The reason for the spelling is because he always called me his "Barbie". No one ever got away with calling me that, but him. He knew I didn't like being called that but I would give anything to hear it today!!

My dad is now gone and we have with broken hearts and tears in our eyes.
For those of you that knew him as Rick, Richard or Brewmaster.

We have more names for him than you can imagine.
Husband, Best friend, Daddie, Grampa, & Many more..

On your next ride on your Motorcycles and you feel a little gust of wind go by ,
That will be my daddie heading to the front, Leading you on a safe ride.



Barbara Davis (Daughter)

March 1, 2004

     When I was a little kid I would often shout with dismay…"It just isn't fair! It just isn't fair". Whenever things didn't go the way that I wanted them to or maybe I felt that I had been slighted or hurt in some way I would turn toward the source of my pain and say the words uttered by every child since time began: "It just isn't fair". My father (in his inimitable style) would always respond with love and the same words: "Life isn't always fair, John. At some point you will understand, but for now, it will remain a mystery."

     Well, now (many years later) I find myself returning to those same selfish and childish words. "It just isn't fair". These words contain the same number of letters and the same number of syllables that they did when I was six or seven, but this time they contain so much more depth of emotion.

     I met Rich in September of 1984 at a Virago Owner's Club event that occurred in Manheim, Pennsylvania…right in the middle of a hurricane. It would have been twenty years this summer since that first delightful encounter. From that first meeting, I sensed that I was meeting a new friend for life. How did I know that, you might ask? Maybe it was his gentle and friendly manner. Maybe it was his positive attitude that I felt right from the start. I'm not really sure just what it was, but I have felt the same love, the same friendship and the same positive and caring attitude for almost twenty years.

     I know that I have not known Rich Pfeifer as long as many people here today, but I still feel that I speak for the Kindred Spirit Riders and myself when I say that I think that "It just isn't fair" that Rich isn't here in the flesh anymore. "It just isn't fair" that he won't be here to confide in (as any friend). He won't be here to encourage us. He won't be here to act as a role model for what a true friend should be like…or maybe he will be here for all these things. He will be here to confide in and to encourage us and to show us true friendship, just not in the flesh, but in the "Spirit". He will always be a Kindred Spirit to us all. So maybe, just maybe, we should say: "It just isn't fair" that more people didn't have the privilege to be blessed with a Rich Pfeifer friendship.

In the words of Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit a while with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up…to more than I can be

(Please play the Josh Groban CD recording of the song: You Raise Me Up)

Dr. John

Therefore Rick, Grampa, & Dad will never die - but live forever inside of me and inside all of us. We can be as close to him as ever - Whenever - we want.

Dad's presence created a lot of memories for me as well as everyone that knew him. He was truly a very valuable luxury in my life.

All of us need to begin to live our lives without this luxury - for now this luxury is inside - not - outside of us.

And therefore will Never go Away.

All my love Dad.

"The son you always wanted"

Michael Ingrassia (Mickey)

        
      Many of you new members didn't get the chance to meet a very caring person who thought of the VOC Family as he did his own family. Rich Pfeifer was a one of a kind person. When Toots, Angela and I joined the VOC we couldn't vision what was coming.

      I will start from the beginning. In 1989 shortly after joining the club, we went to London, Ontario for the Family Reunion. When we arrived, we knew no one for about 2 minutes. Rich was one of the first to introduce himself, along with John Vidler and Ray Karpovage. Someone would have thought we knew these people all our lives. It's still vivid in my mind - "Hi, I'm Brewmaster". That year we had a ball at the Reunion and we were definitely hooked.

      In 1990 in Manheim, PA, again Rich was there to greet us, along with other friends. At that Reunion Rich must have seen something in us, because he asked me to be a local coordinator and to get the word out about the VOC. So in 1990 we started our CNY Chapter and I guess you would say the rest is history.

      Let's not forget that along with Rich's passion for the Virago Owners Club, Rich had a great sense of humor, always the joker. For example, in 1991 at the Brodie Mt., Mass. Reunion, he stole our CNY flag and let Dusty Collins take the blame for it. (Of course we believed this because Dusty after all had the reputation of stealing one flag per Reunion and returning it the next with no one knowing who did it). Rich finally fessed up before we left the Reunion. Also at that same Reunion, during the awards ceremony he called Toots and Viv Bonin up to help him only to announce that they had tied for "Best matched pair"! What a character.

      Over the years Rich has asked me to run for VOC President. I have never had the time to squeeze this in. When I e-mailed him and told him I was the new VP, his comment was Congrats and it's about time. I hope I can make him proud of his thoughts of me he had so many years ago and since. I know the CNY Chapter wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Brewmaster. I know the passion I have for this club is because of the many friends I have made over the years. I, along with my family, will miss one very important member - You, Rich "Brewmaster" Pfeifer.

Gary Dann
VOC Vice President

From Moe Lavoie:

For those who may not know, Rich was the "FATHER" of our Family of Riders. Brewmaster, as he was affectionately called by some, was instrumental in getting me to start the GHC 17 years ago. He gave me the tools, imprinted the "Family Code" on me, and gave me the leeway to make the GHC one of the most active and long lived chapters in the VOC. We've had our up's & down's but Rich told me we would have that. Our mutual respect and love for this club are what kept our friendship alive through all the years.
Rich had not been all that active in the VOC International affairs in the past 10 years as he battled with his health, but he never was out of touch. His passion & dedication to our Family unending. When we hosted the Family Reunion in 2001, Rich & Gail invited Eileen & I to their home & gave us anything we asked from their memorabilia to make the
Welcome to the Past theme come to life. Having Rich & all the original members at the head table telling stories and revisiting how the VOC came to be will be a very cherished memory for me. On Saturday, he came up to me in the back, where we were having the games, and put his arm on my shoulder and said "Moe, you've done really good with this club." Those words to me, spoken as from our Father to a Son, will be remembered forever. Good Bye my Friend.

Moe

This is a letter to my friend Rich Pfeiffer.
Ray Karpovage