Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues:
We are deeply saddened to share the news that Rick passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022. He was an amazing husband, son, brother and uncle as well as a profoundly valued friend, colleague, counselor and mentor. His insight, logic and sense of responsibility, along with his no-nonsense perspective, balanced judgment, lucid reasoning and unique brand of humor will be sorely missed.
Robin and Rick’s family will be conducting a private spreading of his ashes later in the fly-fishing season near his beloved Ruby River near the Montana ranch of Upper Canyon Outfitters. A celebration of Rick’s life is also being considered in the Spring, with details shared soon. Those of you wishing to honor Rick with a donation are asked to consider two causes that were important and meaningful to him:
The Power of Will is a nonprofit created with the mission to support and enhance the lives of sarcoma patients and their loved ones. It was established in honor of Will Hudson, a close Rice family friend. In 2020, Will passed away at 25 years of age from sarcoma. The mission of The Power of Will is simple – to support and enhance the lives of sarcoma patients and their loved ones. The Power of Will is on a steadfast pursuit to change the narrative for sarcoma patients. The Hudson/Brand family has seen firsthand how overwhelming a sarcoma diagnosis can be. From the initial shock of learning the diagnosis, to traveling for medical appointments, and finding others who share your experience, a journey with sarcoma is not meant to be traveled alone. The Power of Will exists to support those facing sarcoma through a variety of means:
- Funding Scientific Research – Many doctors and scientists are devoting their careers to sarcoma research, but they rely on private foundations to fund these efforts.
- Education – The lack of education surrounding sarcomas presents challenges for sarcoma detection and determining diagnosis. Outreach initiatives will result in earlier diagnoses and increased research funding.
- Providing Resources to Patients and Families – Patients and their families need resources, education, and a community of support.
Upper Canyon Outreach Foundation Over the past several years, Rick has been committed to the process of helping the folks at Upper Canyon Outfitters develop the Upper Canyon Outreach Foundation, which he helped name. The UCO Foundation lies at the center of several areas of Rick’s passion – his love for the Upper Canyon Outfitters family, the natural beauty of the Ruby River Valley, the insights gained through equine facilitated learning taught at the ranch, and his respect and commitment to US service men and women. The UCO Foundation makes possible the ‘Got Your Six’ Horsemanship Program which helps veterans, especially those struggling with the invisible wounds of war and dealing with post-traumatic stress. The three-day course creates an authentic working relationship with a horse through natural horsemanship skills. Building relationships with prey animals like horses, requires the development of self-awareness, authenticity and congruency. Participants also develop methods to translate these skills into other areas of their lives – mental well-being, relationships, family, leadership and work. This development of intra- and inter-personal skills provides a positive outlet for participants. The Program has been running for four years and the Foundation is in the initial stages of development.
For more information, please see UCO’s video about Equine Facilitated Learning which is the pillar of the Foundation. You can also contact Cassie Ubaldo, M.A. Ed, Equine Program Director, at cassie.uco@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to: Cassie Ubaldo c/o Got Your 6.
To all of you who have reached out to Rick’s immediate family, your kindness and generosity have been enormously appreciated during this challenging time. If you know of other people who you believe would want to know this information, please feel free to share it. — Robin Rice
