In Memory of Warren P. Kendrick-Richard

PREFACE

You may be aware that my very beloved partner and spouse for 34 years recently passed away. Warren Paul Kendrick-Richard was only 59 years old, and appeared to be in excellent condition. 

Warren was a wonderful patient, never complaining, and always looking at the positive side of every situation. We both knew how terrible pancreatic cancer is, but we were at the best place, and we hoped he could be kept going. 

During the last two weeks he was with us, he wrote his life story. His wish was that not a word of his story be changed, and it be published after he was gone. Please help me to fulfill his final wish, by reading what motivated him, and joining us in our crusade to help others still suffering from this horrible disease. Doing nothing is not an option for those facing this disease - patients or their families and friends - now or in the future.

First of all, I want to say that I have lived an extraordinary life which I attribute mostly to Ed. He has been a constant positive force in my life for almost 35 years. Ed and my extended family (Grant, Cindy and the kids) have always been by my side and have never wavered in support for me. When I have fallen, they have always been there to catch me.

I saved some money and bought a truck with a canopy. This was my home for the next 5 months. I was a member of a sports club so I was able to take a shower in the morning before heading to work. 

I was promoted a few times at work, became a store manager then landed a job with Greyhound Food Management. At the time it was a huge conglomerate of food companies. It was dismantled sometime in the 80's. I met Ed in 1988 and ran one of his industrial companies for about 10 years. I was hired to set-up a computer system, found serious irregularities among top employees, and Ed made me the manager. We sold it and that is when I started my software consulting company. I built up the company and sold it in 2009-2010. It was exciting to start a company from scratch, make it successful, and then sell it for a nice sum. 

I was going to also be Ed's caregiver and eventually manage the Edward H Richard Charitable Foundation which he had started in 1969 with $800.00. I had also started managing the foundation, and really liked it. I helped Ed build the foundation from a worth of $800, to one worth more than eight million dollars, and we also gave away more than four million dollars in gifts. 

I have been fighting this terrible cancer for almost nine months now, but things are not looking very good.

I do also ask if you have any contact with my immediate family, please DO NOT disclose any of this story to them. They don’t care about me and are just a bunch of leeches. 

I decided when the Facebook donation program was launched that I would also put money where my mouth was. I promised to match ANY donation up to $3000. As it turned out, we raised almost $5000.00 in just two weeks. Now, I feel I am in the final stage of my life. I’m not complaining, though I wish I had a bit more time.

Thanks for your friendship. I have had an extraordinary life, met some amazing people, have a great adopted family whose name I now proudly bear and have been blessed with falling in love several times. I am also so happy and pleased that Ed and I married earlier this year as some of you know, so I decided to go by the name Warren P. Kendrick-Richard to show how much I love MY Richard family. 

Ed and I have talked at length about what is happening to me, and we have decided to establish the WARREN P. KENDRICK-RICHARD MEMORIAL FUND as a permanent fund. The fund is not only about remembering me, and I thank you in advance for doing that, but it will help find a cure for this deadliest form of cancer. In the very little bit of time I have left, I am using my diminishing strength to ask for your help and support. To those of you who have given already, my most grateful thanks. If you find it possible to give a bit more that would be great. However, if you cannot give, please pass on the story of my life to your family and friends. To folks who would like to donate, I may not be able to thank you personally, but please know how much your gifts mean to me. 

I thank you, and love you all for being my friend through thick and thin!

Warren