Madison, Wisconsin- Richard John McCormick - our beloved counselor, friend, brother, and father - died unexpectedly, peacefully, at home, and in his sleep on November 5, 2017.

Rick was born March 9, 1960 in Menominee, MI. He grew up in Flint and in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, where he graduated from Kingsford High School in 1978.

He moved to Menominee, MI and went to work driving all over Wisconsin for Aerial Beauty and Barber Supply Co. He married Debra Belanger in 1983. Their daughter, Ashley, was born three years later. Rick and his family moved to Milwaukee and its suburbs - where they lived together for many years. In 1994 Rick earned a business degree from UW-Milwaukee; and in 1997 he graduated from Marquette University Law School.

After graduating law school, Rick went on to practice in Kenosha at Mengo Law. He then went on to be a public defender in Milwaukee. After several years in the law practice, he decided to leave the profession. Around that time, he and Debra divorced. Rick spent a few years exploring what else this world had to offer; delivering newspapers in Milwaukee, then moving to Winona, MN and shortly thereafter Fort Collins, CO.

In 2007, with love and help from “the Sisternal” (Debra Sandy) Rick moved to Madison. He got a job driving for Union Cab with his brother, Scott. Rick loved driving cab. He relished storytelling, complaining and arguing with his iconoclastic cabbie colleagues and their passengers. He thrived at Union and in Madison. Rick played a significant role in the development of Union’s mediation and conflict resolution systems. He served as Steward and as Head Steward. Rick was moved by and honored to participate in Union Cab’s active opposition to and protest against Act 10 during the 2011 Wisconsin Uprising.

Rick loved playing his guitar, collecting and sharing music, and eating good food. Most of all, he loved his family and his many lovely friends - with whom he passed endless hours of good times making and drinking beer, pontificating, arguing, and kidding around.

In his last years, Rick fought a battle with cancer with bravery and fearless determination to live his life to its fullest. Rick’s family is especially grateful to his caregivers at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. We take comfort in knowing that the end came without great suffering.

Rick is survived by his: daughter Ashley McCormick (Steven) of Milwaukee; brother William McCormick (Nita) of Kenosha; sister Debra Sandy of Madison; brother Michael Sandy of New Berlin; brother Scott McCormick of Portland, OR; and his former wife Debra Belanger-Leutermann of Waukesha, WI. Rick is also survived by his: friend Anna Hahm of Madison; his roommates Geremy Foster, Jason Glomp and Ramy Renor; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and by his cat Princess Bella Sweetness Love. Richard was preceded in death by his parents William McCormick and Beverly (Meyers) McCormick, and by his brother Robert McCormick (Sally Jo).

A memorial service will be held at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, on Saturday, November 18, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rick’s remains will be cremated.

Suddenly, you were gone

From all the lives you left your mark upon

I remember

How we talked and drank into the misty dawn

I hear the voices

We ran by the water on the wet summer lawn

I see the footprints

I remember

Rush - Afterimage (1984)

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N. Sherman Ave.

(608) 249-8257

Richard McCormick

March 09, 1960 - November 05, 2017

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