Thank you Michael, for writing this blog. I did not know Richard personally, but I was a great admirer of his work. I'm sure if I had known him, I would have been a great admirer of his life as well.

I didn't know him, but this eulogy makes me wish I did. :)

Richard was a very special man. He was very close with my mother, Micki Hurwitt, and spent many evenings in the early 70's hanging out with her at our house in Chilmark. His dessert Gallery was happening the year we moved here - 1970 or so - a great way to discover that the Vineyard was not just farmers markets and beautiful beaches but very interesting, outrageous people! He and Claudia were the people my mother called on to help her with her dying process in the 1990's when her kids weren't here, and they were always there for her. Richard was a kind, very wise, extremely honest, disarming, boy-man. He helped me at times to understand life. I'll always have a place in my heart for Richard Lee.

My thoughts and condolences are with Claudia and Hudson.

This is sad news. I started working for Claudia in the late '70's, when I was a teenager. I worked at Claudia's-either summers or year-round- until 1993,when I moved to Boston.One day, Claudia came over to tell me she was in love with Richard Lee. If I wanted to meet him, he was at the store. I went right over and there he was-at the top of a precarious ladder, painting. That pretty much captures his essence. He loved Claudia and Hudson in his own unique way. I was lucky enough to spend many Christmases with them-something I have missed very much. He was an enthusiastic collector of playing card anything. One of the best finds I ever made was a small vase with four suits on it. I couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to him. His reaction was loud and memorable and completely satisfying. I'll miss him and continue to think of him and his family often. My love to Claudia and Hudson and all the many friends who cared for Richard.

Thank you, Emily, for adding this wonderful reminiscence, truly an intimate glimpse.

I used to tell Richard he was an American Peter O'Toole; fully as charismatic and engaging. I remember when he walked you out to your car after dinner at his house, he'd get thoroughly engrossed in the night sky. And his paintings! On first glance, they looked angelic until you saw that all the cherubs were up to kinky stuff! He once said he was very flattered when he learned a painting of his that hung in the bathroom at the Oyster Bar & Grill had been stolen! His son Husdon's buddies used to love to chill w/ Richard late into the night playing cards. "You've got to keep the snacks coming," he once told me as his secret to hanging with the young'uns.

Richard was part of our afternoon gathering in Aquinnah this afternoon. We held and admired one of his masks. We danced in fond memory of Richard dancing. We reminisced about his reverse on glass painting techniques - then we danced some more - evoking Richard's name - feeling his spirit dance.

thank you for this, Michael..
a fitting tribute to a unique and talented man.

You're welcome, Paul. He's left quite a legacy of love and memory.

I unconditionally loved Richard Lee and will continue to love his wife Claudia and their son Hudson- they are in my thoughts and in my heart. I met Richard in 1997 when we bought our house on Lambert's Cove Road - I spotted a "sale" sign at the entrance to Chicamoo Gallery and as we were to be neighbors I simply had to check it out! It didn't take a second to figure out how very talented this sweet man was. I felt honored when he entered his "blue" period and told me that he was inspired by my blue cocktail napkins! Since I am somewhat of a blue freak too we saw things eye to eye. My husband Jeremy and I never regretted a moment we spent with Richard - we are so sad that we won't have those moments to look forward to again. Friederike Biggs

One summer I visited Richard in his then smaller gallery space behind Claudia's in Vineyard Haven. He wasn't a fan of manning the store, nor did he love sitting in Chicamoo waiting for clients. But luckily for the passers by or the purposeful visitors like myself who didn't consider they had arrived on Island without seeing his face, he was there. We would sit and gossip and speak of the seasons past and mutually admire his new work. One time he reached over and gifted me with a bracelet made from shells he had collected while visiting Hudson in Hawaii. My family learned to be tolerant of me getting in line hours early at Chicken Alley's annual sale when there were rumors of a Richard Lee painting hiding among the finds. Richard was delighted when he heard I had finally scored one of his pieces made especially for the sale. Years ago, when he learned of my interest in American Indian artifacts, he took me to the back of his property to show me the moss garden he had cultivated around ancient trees which were old Indian meeting grounds. He was generous, kind, outrageous, funny and loving. I can't imagine an August without him. Your touching poem was a gift to all of us who loved him. Thank you Michael.

Beverly, your description of Richard and those stories truly brought him back to life for a moment. So many cherished memories! I am happy you like the poem I wrote. It was first thing this morning after reading Williams's comment and I wanted to find a Wampanoag funeral chant and googled to no avail, so I began to write the poem, wanting something mythic and Richard at the same time. I guess because Richard was mythic it just worked out. Maybe he was working with me.

Just heard from Lynne Whiting that when bringing a dish to share tomorrow, they are requesting ONLY FINGER FOODS - room temperature - nothing that requires forks, spoons, knives, dishes, etc. Keeping it simple, as also seems fitting. I am going to update the blog to reflect these wishes as well.