RIP "El Voce" (Dick Schomburg)

[jazzdelmar]

no idea

i had no idea he was ill. a wonderful man and class A plus poster. always the voice (of reason and love of Zags) here. irreplaceable.

[Zagdawg]

We have lost a great member of the Zag family.

My prayers go out to his family members in this difficult time.

I am sure he is in a better place.

[Section 116]

As Cavebear mentioned I was one of the other friends visiting Dick yesterday afternoon. My wife and I had just returned from a 10 day visit to Pennsylvania, where I grew up, for my high school reunion and family visiting. So among the first words out of Dick's mouth when we walked in yesterday was, "How was the trip to Pennsylvania?" And then we moved on. Though he was tired and weak and didn't contribute a lot to the conversation he was attentive and appeared to enjoy the visit. Little did we know when we left it would be the last time we would see him! It's all just so shocking!

Two things I would share with the board members about Dick. This year he has been all excited about Kyle Dranganis and his coming days as a Zag. As many of you know, Dick was from Nampa, ID and Dranganis was from the old hometown. Over many of our Tuesday lunches Dick would launch into which incoming guards would redshirt because Dranganis was a shoo in to start, what with his three point shooting and his Nampa heritage.

Much like Cavebear I have known Dick for well over 20 years. In fact, one of the first times I ever talked to him was when we both worked for Spokane County and I saw him in a Pittsburgh Pirate jacket and I asked him if he was from Pennsy. He wasn't but he was an ardent fan which leads to this. A couple years back on a slow summer posting day, I posted my 5 worst moments in sports. At #1 for me was the 1960 World Series between the NY Yankees and the Pirates. At the time I was a 12 year old kid and huge Yankee fan who adored Mantle and Yogi and all the Yankees. That world series was an odd one as the Yankees outhit, outscored, out homered and outpitched the Pirates. Yet in the perhaps the most famous homerun in World Series history Bill Mazeroski hit a walk off homer in the bottom of the 9th, the Pirates won the series 4 games to 3 and devestated one 12 year old. Unknown to me because I never asked, Dick said he was a Pirates fan because Vern Law, Pirate pitcher was a native of Meridian ID and that made Dick a fan for life. So while the 1960 World Series was my darkest sports moment, it was one of, if not the happiest sports moment in Dick's life. A fact he reminded me of over and over.

While I didn't know Dick during his heydays at GU, I did hear many of his stories over the years and met many of his former classmates. Dick and I, along with Cavebear and Hondo and a few others spent every Tuesday at lunch, me for the past 4 years, Hondo and Dick for more than that, and Cavebear since he retired some some two years ago.

There is going to be a big hole at our lunch table, a big hole in the GU stands on gameday and a big hole in the lives of Dicks family and friends. I am proud to number Dick among my best friends and I will miss him the rest of my days.

[sittingon50]

He will be missed. Condolences to family & friends.

[LongIslandZagFan]

A true giant of the zag community has been lost. Dick was truly a great person, and someone I was glad to call a friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Schomburg family. Godspeed Dick... Can't wait to watch Zag games from on high with you someday. Rest in peace my friend.

[JPtheBeasta]

My heart goes out to El Voce and his family. I am very saddened by his passing and know him only through his narrative voice and insights on this board- I can only imagine how those who were close to him or knew him by his real name must feel. El Voce, you will be missed.

[Rangerzag]

I only met Dick at the WCC tournament a few years ago in Portland. Talk about a gracious fellow who made you know right away he was genuinely pleased to meet you.

Full sympathy for his family and many friends.

Rest In Peace, Dick and thanks for the memories and all the excellent posts over the years.

[TheBeast]

RIP. I'm in shock.

[ZagWhoShotLibertyValance]

first of all, i would like to thank el voce en memorium. really, a decent person. second, i would like to think anyone and everyone associated with this board (and the one that preceded it). I never knew the man. I never would have heard of him if it were not for this board. and, today, i am honestly saddened by the passing of a man i never knew but touched me. el voce really was a voice of reason and a decent guy. one of my positive reps (in my old name) came from him....

so, thanks to everyone who had anything to do with helping el voce touch my life.
tonight, as my family and i sit down to dinner, we will say a prayer for a man we never knew.
RIP

[MickMick]

Deepest sympathy.

[MedZag]

Wow, in shock as well. Dick was truly blessed with the gift of insight, in innumerable ways. My condolences to the family, though my hunch is that his memory will shine brightly through the grief with time.

[LynetteG]

i had no idea he was ill. a wonderful man and class A plus poster. always the voice (of reason and love of Zags) here. irreplaceable.

I didn't know either! I saw the thread and just about fell out of my chair. What a guy! I am so sad! Big loss for the Zag family. RIP EV, Godspeed.

[Oregon Zag]

So, so sad. RIP El Voce. You had great charisma and a very kind heart. We will miss you dearly.

[Lurknomore]

I didn't know Dick except through his posts which I always enjoyed. He will be missed here. Peace to his family.

[ZagNative]

I am so sad. The world seems very quiet tonight.