Thank you all for all your love and support for Fran. Please feel free to leave comments for Irma and the family. Click on the comments link below to see what others have left, and you can leave one there.
If you would like an original copy of the video emailed to you, please send an email to richardrichardson@gmail.com. The size of the file is about 25mb, so if you have file size restrictions on your email account, it wil be difficult to receive.
Also, as you scroll down, you fill find copies posted of the comments made at the services held in Fran's honor.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Rich Richardson Comments from Mercy Memorial Service
After meeting many of you last night at the memorial service, and seeing the outpouring of love and unity in what today was called the “Mercy Family”, I remembered back to a conversation I had with Fran as he was being promoted from floor nurse into more administration roles. I think Fran felt that he was a good nurse, and did everything he could to be cheerful and helpful with patients. I remember him struggling with whether or not it was possible to institutionalize the qualities of excellent nursing in an organization. Were great nurses merely born, or could they be created? If it was possible, then what could he do organizationally to create a team of nurses that would exemplify what’s in your name – Mercy.
Just as a side note, I think that is a good name for a hospital. Who would want to go to a hospital named “Justice?”
Now, there are two types of mercy. First, there is a heavenly mercy which comes from a loving Elder Brother who offered his life for us that through His grace allows us to live again. This is typified by the painting on my left. But there is also a worldly mercy, which is exemplified by the two scenes painted on the wall behind me which show the kindness and love of those who gather around and care for the sick and afflicted. This earthly mercy, I would also call Charity.
This type of earthly charity or mercy is similar to that shown by the Good Samaritan. When your heart is in the right place and you see people in need, you do what you can to bind up their wounds and help them to a better place. In his care, Fran in his positive attitude, people development, patient care and advocacy, was like the Good Samaritan. He went well out of his way in personal sacrifice to make sure that all that is possible is done for the good of others. Fran didn’t have enemies. He didn’t care if the people he came into contact with were white/black, high/low, Dolphins or Bears. He was comfortable in working with everyone and went out of his way to show charity and mercy to others.
The outpouring of love that I saw last night from the Mercy Family seems to come from a group of people that are bound together in a fight. Like the marines fighting for life and death, they are bound together by a deep es spirit de corp. I believe that the unity and love that you feel as a Mercy Family comes from fighting the fight of life and death here each day – not your own life or death, but doing all that is worldly possible to help relieve suffering and restore life, while praying and hoping for heavenly assistance from above. When everyone is engaged in the same cause, it binds you together.
Have you ever wondered what doctors and nurses do when they die? I’ve often thought about this. Due to the premature birth of my baby son, we spent 6 long months in the NICU and had a lot of time to observe those people swarming around my little boy’s crib. Now when doctors die, maybe they dream of playing golf on gentle fairways with easy pin placement. But as for nurses, given the nature of their hearts and their day-to-day hands on struggle in the care of their patients, I suppose that they hang around hospitals – Angels in Scrubs doing what they can to inspire and direct those here to help in the battle here on earth.
I suspect that Fran will also be around to watch over us, keep us working hard. Claudia mentioned that there was no better patients advocate than Fran, and I suspect and hope above that he will continue to be a heavenly advocate for the patients under your care, to the ultimate CEO above.
In trying to develop the people he worked with, Fran tried to lead and teach by example. He gave people room to learn and make mistakes. He paid attention and cared about the little things. That was my experience as his little brother. And from the stories we have heard, I suspect that by his daily example, through consistent and countless little things that he had an impact on others. I think we honor him by following his examples of charity, care for others - for everybody. And that I hope will be his lasting legacy as you continue to continue in the fight as the Mercy Family.
Just as a side note, I think that is a good name for a hospital. Who would want to go to a hospital named “Justice?”
Now, there are two types of mercy. First, there is a heavenly mercy which comes from a loving Elder Brother who offered his life for us that through His grace allows us to live again. This is typified by the painting on my left. But there is also a worldly mercy, which is exemplified by the two scenes painted on the wall behind me which show the kindness and love of those who gather around and care for the sick and afflicted. This earthly mercy, I would also call Charity.
This type of earthly charity or mercy is similar to that shown by the Good Samaritan. When your heart is in the right place and you see people in need, you do what you can to bind up their wounds and help them to a better place. In his care, Fran in his positive attitude, people development, patient care and advocacy, was like the Good Samaritan. He went well out of his way in personal sacrifice to make sure that all that is possible is done for the good of others. Fran didn’t have enemies. He didn’t care if the people he came into contact with were white/black, high/low, Dolphins or Bears. He was comfortable in working with everyone and went out of his way to show charity and mercy to others.
The outpouring of love that I saw last night from the Mercy Family seems to come from a group of people that are bound together in a fight. Like the marines fighting for life and death, they are bound together by a deep es spirit de corp. I believe that the unity and love that you feel as a Mercy Family comes from fighting the fight of life and death here each day – not your own life or death, but doing all that is worldly possible to help relieve suffering and restore life, while praying and hoping for heavenly assistance from above. When everyone is engaged in the same cause, it binds you together.
Have you ever wondered what doctors and nurses do when they die? I’ve often thought about this. Due to the premature birth of my baby son, we spent 6 long months in the NICU and had a lot of time to observe those people swarming around my little boy’s crib. Now when doctors die, maybe they dream of playing golf on gentle fairways with easy pin placement. But as for nurses, given the nature of their hearts and their day-to-day hands on struggle in the care of their patients, I suppose that they hang around hospitals – Angels in Scrubs doing what they can to inspire and direct those here to help in the battle here on earth.
I suspect that Fran will also be around to watch over us, keep us working hard. Claudia mentioned that there was no better patients advocate than Fran, and I suspect and hope above that he will continue to be a heavenly advocate for the patients under your care, to the ultimate CEO above.
In trying to develop the people he worked with, Fran tried to lead and teach by example. He gave people room to learn and make mistakes. He paid attention and cared about the little things. That was my experience as his little brother. And from the stories we have heard, I suspect that by his daily example, through consistent and countless little things that he had an impact on others. I think we honor him by following his examples of charity, care for others - for everybody. And that I hope will be his lasting legacy as you continue to continue in the fight as the Mercy Family.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Claudia's Comments from Sunday Program
Fran and I were friends and professional colleagues for ten wonderful years. While there is much sadness at his passing I know that he would want us to celebrate his life and accomplishments instead of mourning. In the past few days I have been remembering all the endearing qualities that he had and want to share some of the memories I will keep forever.
Fran was one of the most gentle and kind humans I have ever known. He was a student of Zen Buddhism and practiced many of its teaching in his daily life. Buddhists believe that suffering can be ended by following the eightfold path: right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right contemplation. As I reflect on the way Fran lived each day, I can see that he embraced this path in everything that he did.
Fran always put great effort into his work. He was a perfectionist and could not allow any work that he did to have flaws. Each year when he worked for hours and days on the budgets, he wanted to be sure that they would not be rejected when they were presented to me. He always prepped the managers for their final budget review and tried to prepare them for the questions I would have. Many of the leadership team learned all they ever knew about budgeting and staffing from Fran. He called it his Budgeting 101 course. Because of Fran every manager knows how to read and interpret financial data.
Fran was also the best patient and family advocate that Mercy Hospital has ever had. Whenever there were difficult family situations, Fran would immediately intervene and was able to defuse family angst and heal relationships. Fran always provided these families with all his contact information so that they could call him 24 hours a day. And they did. Through his caring and diligence and sometimes much interrupted sleep, Fran was a positive force in assuring advocacy for patients and families was practiced on a daily basis.
Fran always remembered staff on special occasions in their lives and was there for them when staff needed support through personal or professional crises. He truly cared for every person. He was the main chef at our leadership Christmas and Spring parties and took great pride in his culinary skills. His fried turkeys, barbeque ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, and dip were the highlight of a number of parties. And when the parties were over he made sure that the left over food was sent back to the hospital for staff. Fran was happiest when he could bring his family together for one of his great cook outs at his home and he would share the joy of those occasions with us.
One of Fran's most endearing qualities was his unique way of expressing his take on events. I wish I had written down all of the sayings that he had because they described what was happening to a T. He often said that he did not want to be the bug on the windshield when there was a crisis brewing that needed immediate attention. He often averted disaster through quick intervention. Fran could talk the ears off of a fly. I often asked him to give me the succinct version of a story as he would often give you the whole book instead of the preface. If you asked Fran for directions he would provide a tour of the building so that you would not lose your way should you wander into an unfamiliar area instead of the most direct route to your destination. Fran knew so much that he wanted to share all that he could. In his own gentle way he wanted to be sure that you had all the information that you would ever need.
The most beautiful thing about Fran was his love and devotion for his wife, Irma. The daily calls Irma made to Fran would light up his eyes when they came in. He always took the calls and though they may be brief they gave him a lift and he could face whatever the day held knowing that the love of his life was thinking about him and took the time to call.
How can you describe someone who gave his life trying to do all the right things? All of us have special memories of Fran that will be held dear. In closing there is a chapter in the Tao Te Ching about cultivating harmony that I think describes the way Fran believed and lived:
Cultivate harmony within yourself, and harmony becomes real
Cultivate harmony within your family, and harmony becomes fertile
Cultivate harmony within your community and harmony becomes abundant
Cultivate harmony within your culture and harmony becomes enduring
Cultivate harmony within the world and harmony becomes ubiquitous.
Wherever Fran went his goal was to cultivate harmony and that is how I will always remember him.
Fran was one of the most gentle and kind humans I have ever known. He was a student of Zen Buddhism and practiced many of its teaching in his daily life. Buddhists believe that suffering can be ended by following the eightfold path: right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right contemplation. As I reflect on the way Fran lived each day, I can see that he embraced this path in everything that he did.
Fran always put great effort into his work. He was a perfectionist and could not allow any work that he did to have flaws. Each year when he worked for hours and days on the budgets, he wanted to be sure that they would not be rejected when they were presented to me. He always prepped the managers for their final budget review and tried to prepare them for the questions I would have. Many of the leadership team learned all they ever knew about budgeting and staffing from Fran. He called it his Budgeting 101 course. Because of Fran every manager knows how to read and interpret financial data.
Fran was also the best patient and family advocate that Mercy Hospital has ever had. Whenever there were difficult family situations, Fran would immediately intervene and was able to defuse family angst and heal relationships. Fran always provided these families with all his contact information so that they could call him 24 hours a day. And they did. Through his caring and diligence and sometimes much interrupted sleep, Fran was a positive force in assuring advocacy for patients and families was practiced on a daily basis.
Fran always remembered staff on special occasions in their lives and was there for them when staff needed support through personal or professional crises. He truly cared for every person. He was the main chef at our leadership Christmas and Spring parties and took great pride in his culinary skills. His fried turkeys, barbeque ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, and dip were the highlight of a number of parties. And when the parties were over he made sure that the left over food was sent back to the hospital for staff. Fran was happiest when he could bring his family together for one of his great cook outs at his home and he would share the joy of those occasions with us.
One of Fran's most endearing qualities was his unique way of expressing his take on events. I wish I had written down all of the sayings that he had because they described what was happening to a T. He often said that he did not want to be the bug on the windshield when there was a crisis brewing that needed immediate attention. He often averted disaster through quick intervention. Fran could talk the ears off of a fly. I often asked him to give me the succinct version of a story as he would often give you the whole book instead of the preface. If you asked Fran for directions he would provide a tour of the building so that you would not lose your way should you wander into an unfamiliar area instead of the most direct route to your destination. Fran knew so much that he wanted to share all that he could. In his own gentle way he wanted to be sure that you had all the information that you would ever need.
The most beautiful thing about Fran was his love and devotion for his wife, Irma. The daily calls Irma made to Fran would light up his eyes when they came in. He always took the calls and though they may be brief they gave him a lift and he could face whatever the day held knowing that the love of his life was thinking about him and took the time to call.
How can you describe someone who gave his life trying to do all the right things? All of us have special memories of Fran that will be held dear. In closing there is a chapter in the Tao Te Ching about cultivating harmony that I think describes the way Fran believed and lived:
Cultivate harmony within yourself, and harmony becomes real
Cultivate harmony within your family, and harmony becomes fertile
Cultivate harmony within your community and harmony becomes abundant
Cultivate harmony within your culture and harmony becomes enduring
Cultivate harmony within the world and harmony becomes ubiquitous.
Wherever Fran went his goal was to cultivate harmony and that is how I will always remember him.
Rich Richardson Comments from Sunday Program
My name is Richard Richardson. I realize that many of you have actually known and worked with Fran for a long time and feel very close to him. But I think it’s important to note that I hold a very special and unique claim to Fran that no one else can make. I am his little brother.
You should know that Fran took this role of older brother very seriously. And while many tonight have talked of his Buddhism as a recent influence in his life, over his life he has searched for truth in many places... from Christianity in his youth, to the East to Buddhism, and up to the stars. But not many of you know that, as his little brother growing up, I had the pleasure of knowing teenage Fran when he was looking West to the German philosopher Nietzsche.
Fran taught me how to play baseball. He was some years older than I was and much bigger. He wanted me to be good, so one of the things he would do to train me is he would throw the ball at me as hard as he could. If I were lucky enough to catch it, my hand would burn in my glove. He would say, “Does it hurt?” “Yes!” He would then follow, “Are you still alive?” I responded “Yes.” Fran then came back and “Then you are ok. You'll be stronger.”
If I didn't catch it, it would hit me somewhere else on my body and leave bumps and welts. “Does it hurt?” “Yep!” “Are you still Alive?” “Yep!” “It’s ok then, it will only make you a better ball player.”
Fran would never let me side step away from the baseball. I knew that if I did, I might die… Anyway, I wouldn't want to lose his respect. He often told me that if I didn't want to get hit with baseballs, then I should learn to use the mitt, because that's why God created it!
I learned to be fearless. Playing and hitting against kids my age wasn’t so hard. To be honest my fearlessness probably got the best of me when I was eight years old, when I took a line drive off the coach’s bat which smashed and broke my nose. Fran was proud of me though, and that was enough for me.
He taught me to catch, throw, hit, various position strategies… I modeled what I did after him. I dressed like him, I talked like him, walked like him, modeled my swing after him. After all, he was my older brother.
Someone earlier tonight said that Fran liked to play soccer earlier. I remember that Fran wasn't necessarily a finesse player at that point. He wanted to play fullback, defense. When they attacked on offense, Fran was there to meet them. One of my vivid memories was a day when Fran came home after breaking some kids leg. He smiled and said it was a legal tackle. He was an intimidating player in many things, as we took his job and roles seriously and wanted to be the best. It is sort of funny, but that is where I always saw him as a Chicago Bears guy – defense oriented, tough, intimidating. You aren’t pretty, but you go out and get your uniform dirty every day and do your job, regardless of the weather and temperature. You have some scars to show for your work. You are fearless, and fight hard to the end as part of a team. I wanted to be like him – I was a Bears fan too.
Another example of Fran the Nietzsche disciple was when he was taking Judo in high school. I had, as Fran’s little brother, the unique opportunity to be of assistance to him. He came home one day, and said something like, “Hey little brother, let me show you a couple of things.” He laid out a mattress on the basement floor, and somehow I ended up being his throwing dummy. (Maybe the operative word here was dummy…) When he did things, he did them with vigor, and know that through study and practice he would get better. He always wanted to get better at things. That is one of the things that I respect about Fran, his continual search to make things better.
As we got older, Fran was playing baseball in a league of 16 to 18-year-olds. I used to go to his games religiously. One time, his team was short a player. They were concerned, but he told his teammates, “Hey, my little brother can play…” They weren’t excited to begin with, but they let me play. He watched out for me, put his arm around me and gave me opportunities, and taught me the skills to seize on opportunities when they presented themselves.
When I came up to bat the first time, the other team moved the infield and outfield in, thinking at 12 years old, I wouldn't be that good. Fran came out on the field and stood next to me, and shouted at the other team, “Hey, my little brother can play, and not to underestimate me.”
I laughed, but it gave me confidence that my brother was there standing next to me. Of course the other team ignored him, and I drove it over their heads. Fran taught me well. I loved him.
After his games, he and his teammates would go out to A&W for rootbeer. They were all older, but Fran would take me along. They’d say, “Fran, lose your little brother!” But Fran told them that “where he went, his little brother went.” He had ways of developing the loyalty of those around him. You never felt alone. What a wonderful feeling to know that when things got tough, my older brother would be there to put his arm around my shoulders.
I guess this is similar to the wonderful blessing that we have to have our older brother in heaven, Christ, who watches out for us, teaches us, and protects us.
Later, I ended up being Fran’s roommate in college for a couple of years. It was fun. We went hiking, on trips, played baseball together, and he continued to watch out for me and give me advice. Even when we lived apart, it was always reassuring that I could call him up anytime and talk to him when I needed help or advice. No matter how long it had been since we talked last, our conversations always started with an update of how the Bears were doing. We would commiserate with each other, and then get down to talking other business…
I know many of you have known Fran longer and worked closely with him longer than I have. I'm truly jealous.
And I can see from talking with you and hearing your experiences that you loved him like I did.
I wished I could have done something to help him at the end. But I know he is in a happier place, where now our Savior can put his arm around Fran, and introduce him in heaven as His little brother.
I hope that Fran will finally find the truth he was searching for. I would expect him to be active, and that he would go hike and explore new heavenly vistas and new worlds that he has always looked to. More than that, I hope that he can get good seats from above to watch the Bears games. And if Fran has any influence over things, I hope the Bears have better teams in the future.
That would help make heaven – well... heaven!
You should know that Fran took this role of older brother very seriously. And while many tonight have talked of his Buddhism as a recent influence in his life, over his life he has searched for truth in many places... from Christianity in his youth, to the East to Buddhism, and up to the stars. But not many of you know that, as his little brother growing up, I had the pleasure of knowing teenage Fran when he was looking West to the German philosopher Nietzsche.
Fran taught me how to play baseball. He was some years older than I was and much bigger. He wanted me to be good, so one of the things he would do to train me is he would throw the ball at me as hard as he could. If I were lucky enough to catch it, my hand would burn in my glove. He would say, “Does it hurt?” “Yes!” He would then follow, “Are you still alive?” I responded “Yes.” Fran then came back and “Then you are ok. You'll be stronger.”
If I didn't catch it, it would hit me somewhere else on my body and leave bumps and welts. “Does it hurt?” “Yep!” “Are you still Alive?” “Yep!” “It’s ok then, it will only make you a better ball player.”
Fran would never let me side step away from the baseball. I knew that if I did, I might die… Anyway, I wouldn't want to lose his respect. He often told me that if I didn't want to get hit with baseballs, then I should learn to use the mitt, because that's why God created it!
I learned to be fearless. Playing and hitting against kids my age wasn’t so hard. To be honest my fearlessness probably got the best of me when I was eight years old, when I took a line drive off the coach’s bat which smashed and broke my nose. Fran was proud of me though, and that was enough for me.
He taught me to catch, throw, hit, various position strategies… I modeled what I did after him. I dressed like him, I talked like him, walked like him, modeled my swing after him. After all, he was my older brother.
Someone earlier tonight said that Fran liked to play soccer earlier. I remember that Fran wasn't necessarily a finesse player at that point. He wanted to play fullback, defense. When they attacked on offense, Fran was there to meet them. One of my vivid memories was a day when Fran came home after breaking some kids leg. He smiled and said it was a legal tackle. He was an intimidating player in many things, as we took his job and roles seriously and wanted to be the best. It is sort of funny, but that is where I always saw him as a Chicago Bears guy – defense oriented, tough, intimidating. You aren’t pretty, but you go out and get your uniform dirty every day and do your job, regardless of the weather and temperature. You have some scars to show for your work. You are fearless, and fight hard to the end as part of a team. I wanted to be like him – I was a Bears fan too.
Another example of Fran the Nietzsche disciple was when he was taking Judo in high school. I had, as Fran’s little brother, the unique opportunity to be of assistance to him. He came home one day, and said something like, “Hey little brother, let me show you a couple of things.” He laid out a mattress on the basement floor, and somehow I ended up being his throwing dummy. (Maybe the operative word here was dummy…) When he did things, he did them with vigor, and know that through study and practice he would get better. He always wanted to get better at things. That is one of the things that I respect about Fran, his continual search to make things better.
As we got older, Fran was playing baseball in a league of 16 to 18-year-olds. I used to go to his games religiously. One time, his team was short a player. They were concerned, but he told his teammates, “Hey, my little brother can play…” They weren’t excited to begin with, but they let me play. He watched out for me, put his arm around me and gave me opportunities, and taught me the skills to seize on opportunities when they presented themselves.
When I came up to bat the first time, the other team moved the infield and outfield in, thinking at 12 years old, I wouldn't be that good. Fran came out on the field and stood next to me, and shouted at the other team, “Hey, my little brother can play, and not to underestimate me.”
I laughed, but it gave me confidence that my brother was there standing next to me. Of course the other team ignored him, and I drove it over their heads. Fran taught me well. I loved him.
After his games, he and his teammates would go out to A&W for rootbeer. They were all older, but Fran would take me along. They’d say, “Fran, lose your little brother!” But Fran told them that “where he went, his little brother went.” He had ways of developing the loyalty of those around him. You never felt alone. What a wonderful feeling to know that when things got tough, my older brother would be there to put his arm around my shoulders.
I guess this is similar to the wonderful blessing that we have to have our older brother in heaven, Christ, who watches out for us, teaches us, and protects us.
Later, I ended up being Fran’s roommate in college for a couple of years. It was fun. We went hiking, on trips, played baseball together, and he continued to watch out for me and give me advice. Even when we lived apart, it was always reassuring that I could call him up anytime and talk to him when I needed help or advice. No matter how long it had been since we talked last, our conversations always started with an update of how the Bears were doing. We would commiserate with each other, and then get down to talking other business…
I know many of you have known Fran longer and worked closely with him longer than I have. I'm truly jealous.
And I can see from talking with you and hearing your experiences that you loved him like I did.
I wished I could have done something to help him at the end. But I know he is in a happier place, where now our Savior can put his arm around Fran, and introduce him in heaven as His little brother.
I hope that Fran will finally find the truth he was searching for. I would expect him to be active, and that he would go hike and explore new heavenly vistas and new worlds that he has always looked to. More than that, I hope that he can get good seats from above to watch the Bears games. And if Fran has any influence over things, I hope the Bears have better teams in the future.
That would help make heaven – well... heaven!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Francis Richardson - Tribute Video
Thank you all for all your love and support for Fran. Please feel free to leave comments for Irma and the family. Click on the comments link below to see what others have left, and you can leave one there.
If you would like an original copy of the video emailed to you, please send an email to richardrichardson@gmail.com. The size of the file is about 25mb, so if you have file size restrictions on your email account, it wil be difficult to receive.
Also, as you scroll down, you fill find copies posted of the comments made at the services held in Fran's honor.
If you would like an original copy of the video emailed to you, please send an email to richardrichardson@gmail.com. The size of the file is about 25mb, so if you have file size restrictions on your email account, it wil be difficult to receive.
Also, as you scroll down, you fill find copies posted of the comments made at the services held in Fran's honor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)