It’s with a very sad heart that I pass to you that we’ve lost a very loved member of the PD forum, reverrett123 Rick Everrett passed away this March. With over 3000 posts, many members were concerned when they stopped suddenly. Inquiries, emails, and phone calls went unanswered, so my wife and I offered to do a welfare check on Rick. What we found was the worst news, and a grief stricken wife. She wanted to inform the forum, but didn’t have the courage yet to talk about her loss. Wanda did confide with us over a couple of hours how much Rick and she loved all the members, and White Rats of the forum. She talked of the many friendships made during Rick’s relentless research for the Parkinson’s cure. It was obvious they had a special relationship for many years as she shared pictures with us from years past, and she misses him so very much.

It was very difficult for her to talk about the circumstances concerning Rick’s death, but she felt it necessary to share just in case it could help one of us in the future. I, myself find it very hard to transfer to print the emotions that poured from this woman during the visit, but I’ll try to get the message out that she wanted passed on.

For a period of time Rick was having a more difficult time of getting much “On” time with his current meds. Wanda talked about him having mild hallucinations and how Rick would shake his head in disbelief and say how sinemet will do him in someday. She was blaming herself for not comparing notes with Rick’s nephew, and picking up any clues about Rick’s condition. The hallucinations, mild at first, became more intense. She clearly thinks these were effects of the sinemet and besides the hallucinations, Rick was his normal self. She also believes that sinemet is the reason he took his own life March 6th 2014.

Many of you have known Rick much longer than I have and can add so many things that he did for the PD world. I was always amazed at his research and technical skills and thought he should be a research scientist with a team working toward the cure. However, he fought the battle with a small laptop and loving wife in a small community in Tennessee, and never gave up hope. I appreciate his contributions, and friendship to this forum and me personally. Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. I will miss him dearly.
ScottSuff