Hi my name is Jeremy Conrad a long-time friend of Rick Blanchard. Rick Blanchard has changed the lives of many people through his generousity towards people. I met Rick when I was 14 years old. I was walking through the neighborhood one day when I stumbled accross a garage sale that Rick and his wife Barbara were having. A three-wheel bike was sitting there and I kept looking at it, I thought the bike was awesome. The next morning Rick knocks on my door and asks me if I wanted the bike, he gave me the bike for free. I rode that bike everywhere....it was my new found freedom. Rick also inspired me to excercise and strengthen my leg muscles (I have cerebral palsy) through various excercises and weight lifting. Together with the bike and the strenghtening of my leg muscles I felt a lot better. Rick also re-built a go-kart for me. I had a go-kart and Rick told me to bring it over and we would rebuild the entire kart. He taught me how to sand the metal frame. Rick re-buit the motor for me and put carpet on the floor. Rick worked as a product fabricator at the Jeep Plant on Plymouth Rd in Detroit, MI so his knowledge of mechanical parts was astounding!!! I remember once the go-kart was done the excitement that I had when we first started the motor, that motor ran like a top thanks to Rick. Once that kart was running I drove it in the street like an idiot and Rick told me that it was not a good idea to drive it in the street, well I was 15 years old and thought that I knew it all and kept driving it in the street. Rick became angry with me understandably and we did not talk for six years after that. Then one day he came to my door and asked if I could fix his VCR, I said yes, that was Rick's way of reaching out and saying lets be friends again. I give him a lot of credit because I would have never done what he did....it took courage and guts and I am so proud of him for that. I am so glad that Rick came to my door again because a good friendship was repaired and a good friend like Rick is hard to come by. After we started talking again I would visit Rick quite often...and his dog Duke. Duke is a very good dog, always cheerful and playful. I cannot forget his wife Barbara, she was a good cook I loved to eat her food.

In 2001 Rick and his wife Barbara moved to Tucson, Arizona. I was so sad to see them go, I wished that I could have changed their minds and made them stay here in Michigan. Moving to a warmer climate was better for Rick because his bones bothered him and he was in pain when it got cold. We still kept in touch while Rick was in Arizona. In late 2002 Rick and his wife came to Michigan to visit, we had such a nice visit, it was so nice to see Rick and Barbara. That was the last time I would see Rick. For the past three years Rick fought infection after infection and recently lost his battle with the infections. I wish I could have been there to tell him how much I cared about him but my fear of flying kept me from doing that.....I regret letting my fear of flying getting in the way to see my buddy. I know that Rick is in a better place and is no longer suffering!!

As we all know Rick was a avid race car fan. Rick drove in a lot of races and worked with many pit crews. He has been all over the USA and Canada at different tracks racing and working alongside the pit crews. You could always find Rick watching NASCAR on Sundays.....he loved NASCAR.

Rick will live forever in the hearts of many people and he will not be forgotten. His cheerful spirit and good-hearted personality are rare qualities and will be cherished. Rick is survived by his wife Barbara and his three daughters Jennifer, Danielle and Monica.

If you have a friend that you have not talked to in a while please call them, you will never know how much they will appreciate hearing from you!!! Rick had many friends that cared about him yet sometimes he felt as if no one cared. That is why I say to call your friends and let them know how much you appreciate them. You never know you could lift a friend's spirits when they are having a bad day!!!