Richard “Rikkii” Michael Andrews
Richard "Rikkii" Michael Andrews, beloved husband of Lisa, father of Alisha, Jovina, Theo and Jada, passed away September 1, 2015, from complications related to liver cancer. He was 62 years old.
Rikkii was born on August 24, 1953 in Wareham, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph and Dorothy, brother of Fred, Joe and Lorraine. Rikkii was very proud of his Cape Verdean heritage.
Rikkii attended Wareham High School, where he played basketball and football, graduating in 1971. After a period during which he travelled in an unofficial capacity with the Boston Celtics, Rikkii attended junior colle
ge then enrolled in the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, graduating in 1980 with an undergraduate degree in Marine Transportation.
Rikkii was unmistakably a "Son of New England" and wherever he went he created a sense of community. At the Maritime Academy his classmates gave Rikkii the nickname "Doctah" in recognition of his knack for making people feel better.
Following graduation from the Maritime Academy, Rikkii joined the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, and moved to San Francisco, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth ('Lisa') Oldaker, at a University of San Francisco social event. They moved to Tiburon in 1982 to start their life together.
Rikkii obtained his Third Mate license and embarked on his maritime career, navigating primarily commercial oil tankers along the western seaboard of the United States and Canada, during which time Lisa would often travel aboard with Rikkii.
Rikkii's career ended in 1998, the result of an industrial accident aboard a transportation vessel harbored in a port in Qatar.
For over 30 years, Rikkii was a well-recognized and beloved "fixture" in Tiburon, between his trademark University of Oregon attire, and his white convertible Audi with its ever-changing license plate (most recently "DOCTAH").
Rikkii became an avid Oregon Duck fan after taking a young, distant family relative, Allan Amundson, under his wing, who went on to star in football at the University of Oregon.
Not long after moving to the Bel Aire neighborhood in 2004, Rikkii was appointed "Da Mayah" in recognition of his community spirit — not least of which was for spearheading, almost singlehandedly, the annual Bel Aire neighborhood block party.
"Uncle Rikkii" and his family were a big part of the Strawberry Seals swim team, and he was particularly proud of his children's swimming accomplishments. Rikkii would lend his support to every swimmer of every team, fast or slow – because he loved them all.
Rikkii worked for five years as a crossing guard at Bel Aire Elementary School. It was the perfect job that allowed Rikkii to be around kids and enjoy the company of families. It also enabled him to spend weekday mornings at Peet's, talking with friends and with everyone else who passed by, whether they knew him or not.
Rikkii was baptized and raised Roman Catholic, and his faith supported him throughout his life.
Many people have been outspoken about how Rikkii touched them personally. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.