R.I.P. Terry Richey
Terry Richie was a fixture in Sunland-Tujunga. Although he never indulged in the psychedelic drugs so firmly attached in people's minds to hippy culture, he wore his thick, wavy red hair long, and dressed for camouflage in a paisley forest.
People who didn't know him usually supposed overuse of psychedelics had made their mark on him, but it wasn't true. He was autistic, and obsessive compulsive. He was also very neat, and communicative.
He couldn't possibly support himself, but he had trouble convincing SSI, so a friend who worked in a welfare office gave him advice on how to seem incompetent the next time he was up for review. It involved leaving shoelaces untied and buttons mis-buttoned, and other non-OCD traits that must have driven Terry crazier when he dressed for that day. He was also told to talk about god a lot. Few people realize that while we all know there are no atheists in the trenches, there are also none in the insane asylum. The friend's plan worked and he was never called in for review again.
When invited in, he would dance around in the doorway for some time, letting in the heat or cold, or whatever weather curse we were fighting, until we had to tell him to make up his mind for heaven's sake. Rather like one of the cats in that. He missed many a bus through indecision, after waiting at the bus stop for quite awhile.
Once seated, he would take out the contents of his pockets and arrange them on the coffee table. Then rearrange them, and then.............. well, as I said, OCD.
He also had read quite a bit, and memorized whole pages about the Civil War and other topics, and should the conversation land on any of them, we would get the entire chapter if possible. He could be annoying, but he was a good natured, generous fellow, and not dull, who was very unhappy that the 1960s were over.
(Letter to a 'Doctor/Hypnotherapist' on behalf of a Deceased Friend)
October 16, 1995
Dear Dr. ___ ______________
I am writing to inform you that your former patient, Terry Richey, is dead. I hope you remember him; he once described you as 'very concerned.'
For the last four years or so, he's been living in empty lots, mostly, and renting storage for his vast and numerous collections of vintage clothes, old magazines, and other enthusiasms. Recently his appearance became alarming: he was burnt a permanent deep, bright pink, was blistered and peeling, and had become quite hallucinatory.
His friends all urged him to rent some sort of shelter - a trailer, hotel room, anything - but he steadfastly insisted that his doctor/hypnotist said he should live 'with somebody' and should not have to pay rent! When I asked what doctor would give such bad advice, he named you. Another friend claimed that Terry showed him a letter to that effect, actually signed by a doctor.
Many people worked to find him various low-cost quarters, but he refused them all, convinced that sooner or later, he'd be taken in by friends, rather than renting his own space, as he always had preveiously, and could afford. His doctor said.
None of us could live with him, mainly because we'd all put him up at one time or another, and found him a quite impossible roommate, running up astronomical utility and phone bills, spying at bedroom windows - and much more, but I haven't toom to enumerate. Few of us could afford to put Terry up, even had we the space, or the patience.
In exasperation, we were all moved at times to suggest that his doctor - as originator of his otherwise hopeless quest - should take him in, but he behaved very strangely when any criticism was directed against you" he would deliberately turn and walk away, or even cover his ears!
I've enclosed a photo of a memorial put up on the vacant lot where he was staying most recently, and where he was found murdered - brutally beaten to death - shortly after the 1st of October, just about the time he'd have received his monthly SSI check.
Some people will go to great lengths to get their hands on the small amount of money allotted to a poor demented guy like Terry.
The City will bury him.
Presumably, he will not have to pay rent.
Sincerely,
adrien rain burke
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