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Obituary for Richard Andrea
Richard C. “Ricky” Andrea
November 27, 1952 – August 19, 2026
Richard C. Andrea, affectionately known as “Ricky” and, to his beloved niece, “Uncle Ricky,”
of Fairlawn, Ohio, passed away on August 19, 2026, at the age of 73.
Born November 27, 1952, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Richard was the youngest son of the late
Alfred J. and Mildred I. Andrea. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James
“Jimmy” Andrea. He is survived by his oldest brother, Fred Andrea and his wife, Nadia; his
nieces, Jennifer and Lisa; his nephew, Michael; and those friends who, over the years, became family to him.
Richard was a gifted floral designer and arranger with an extraordinary eye for beauty. Flowers
were more than an occupation; they were another language through which he could create beauty
and give something of himself to others. His arrangements reflected what Richard loved in life—
color, abundance, imagination and a touch of flamboyance.
That same spirit appeared whenever Richard gave a gift. A present from Ricky was rarely simply
wrapped. It arrived adorned with elaborate ribbons and flourishes because part of his joy was
watching someone’s face as they opened something he had chosen especially for them. Richard
was generous by nature and took genuine pleasure in giving.
He loved growing plants, especially orchids, as well as artwork, music and cooking for others.
Having grown up in a family whose parents owned a restaurant, Richard learned his way around
a kitchen early in life. He never quite mastered the art of cooking for just a few people – he never
wanted to. There was always too much, because for Richard, feeding people was another way of loving them.
Among the great loves of his life was his beloved West Highland White Terrier, DeeDee, his
faithful companion for 15 years. Anyone who knew Richard knew how deeply he loved her and
how much joy and companionship she brought into his life.
As a boy, Richard was raised in the Catholic faith, attended Catholic school and served
devotedly as an altar boy and acolyte. Faith remained part of the landscape of his life, though it
transformed in him as his journey took him through joys, losses, struggles and changes he could
not have imagined as that young boy.
Richard lived his life openly as a gay man during a time when doing so was not always easy. His
journey contained its share of loneliness and difficulty, but also friendship, generosity, humor
and people who came to love him exactly as he was.
Perhaps what people will remember most, however, is Ricky’s laughter.
At a little more than five feet tall, this jolly Italian gentleman could fill a room without ever
being the tallest person in it. His bright eyes and infectious, unmistakable laugh announced his presence.
Nurses and caregivers adored him. Friends loved him and enjoyed being around his
light and love. Ricky liked attention, but delighted just as much in making others laugh, giving
them something beautiful, feeding them, or seeing the surprise on their faces when he presented
one of his extravagantly wrapped gifts.
Fifteen years ago, following the death of his beloved mother—a profound loss for Richard—a
friendship entered his life that became a lasting spiritual brotherhood. Through grief,
companionship and many difficult seasons, Richard discovered that family can also be formed by
choice, compassion and faith. He was embraced as a brother in Christ and accompanied in that
way through the remaining years of his life.
Richard’s life was not without struggle. But neither was it without beauty. Those who knew
Ricky will miss him, especially his smiling face, twinkling eyes and infectious laugh.
And they will remember that, for a little man, he left a very large loving presence behind.
A Celebration of Richard’s Life will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at
Faith Lutheran Church, 2726 W. Market St., Akron, Ohio 44333. Doors will open at 10:30
a.m. A video featuring photographs of Richard, his friends and his floral creations will play in
the Fellowship Hall, accompanied by his beloved Jim Brickman piano music.
The Zoom broadcast will begin at 10:30 a.m., with the memorial service beginning at 11:00 a.m. A light
brunch and time of fellowship will follow.
For those wishing to honor Richard’s memory, tax-deductible memorial contributions to his memorial fund
may be made by clicking the button below.
May Richard rest in peace, now spiritually at home, surrounded by the goodness and beauty he
spent a lifetime enjoying and creating with others.
We are pleased to announce that the Centre for Transformation has been granted 501(c)(3) charitable organization status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This designation means that we are now officially recognized as a nonprofit organization, and as such, donations made to us are tax-deductible for donors. We are grateful for this opportunity to better serve our mission and community, and we welcome your support in the form of tax-free contributions. Your generosity will make a significant impact on our work, and we look forward to continuing our mission with your valuable support.
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