Richard Reiheld

You spend the first half of your life waiting to be discovered and the second half hoping you won't be found out.' ~ Richard Andrew Reiheld 9/8/34 - 7/22/13 Beloved father brother uncle grandfather friend and consummate bookseller Rich died peacefully after a brief battle with cancer. A long-time Bay Area CA resident and native of Akron OH Rich was preceded in death by loving wife Susan (1/28/08) as well as siblings David (wife Eleanor) Martha Schauer (husband Matt) and Robert. He is survived by sisters: Jimmie (Marjorie) Leib (Charles) Mary Gleisinger; children: Polly Reiheld (John Kutuchief) Sophy Abbott-Hall (Riley) and Zack Reiheld; grandchildren: Ellie and Will Abbott-Hall; sister-in-law Jolyan Reiheld and many nieces nephews and dear friends especially Smitty (Jim Smith wife Marie) whose friendship with Rich began in the first grade and lasted over 70 years. Born in Akron Ohio to Ottmar and Marjorie (Barnhardt) Reiheld Rich attended St. Sebastian Elementary School and was a 1952 graduate of St. Vincent High School in Akron. While at the University of Akron he enlisted in the Army and finished his military service at the Monterey CA Defense Language Institute. He then began a lifelong career in bookselling after moving to Berkeley CA to work on his Master's Degree in English Literature. He honed his bookselling skills at Cal Book and Cody's Books in the 1960's applied his gift of compassionate mentoring as General Manager at Bookpeople in the 1970's and in the 1980's made a career change to computer programming. After experiencing retirement in the 1990's in 2000 he returned to bookselling at Copperfield's Books in Petaluma where he shared his passion and knowledge of books until 2012. A gentleman of solitary pursuits Rich enjoyed reading working crossword and jigsaw puzzles more reading cooking and playing solitaire. And then some more reading! Although he valued his 'alone time ' he also cherished time spent with friends at his monthly poker game frequent trips to the movies with his son Zack and his good friend Patt and connecting with his daughters in Ohio and other family members as often as possible. Rich possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of all maters historical and political and it was truly vast and impressive. He had a relentless commitment to independent media and investigative journalism. He knew he could never keep up with all his subscriptions but maintained them anyway - it was his way of supporting independent journalism. Rich was a long-time member of the Phi Beta Kappa (Academic Honor) Society. He was known for his astute philosophizing his progressive liberal thinking his 30+ years of dedication to AA his fondness of NE Ohio singer Helen Welch and his brilliant sense of humor - but most of all Rich will be remembered for the unconditional love pride and loyalty he had for his children. His first marriage to Joan Patricia Young (1955-1971) resulted in the births of three daughters: Catherine Marjorie (b. 4/18/56 d.4/20/56) Polly Marie (b. 12/17/63) and Sophy Eleanor (b. 7/4/67). His second marriage to Susan Vee Saxon (1971-1985) not only produced a son Zachary Lawrence (b. 4/24/72) but also culminated in the love of a lifetime. They remarried in 2004 and were together until Susan's death in 2008. We extend heartfelt thanks to Dad's cherished friend Patt Schroeder for all of the loving care she gave to Rich and his family during his illness. We are also tremendously appreciative of the caring support of Hospice of Petaluma and the Akron General Hospice & Palliative Care of Visiting Nurse Service. Towards the end of his illness Rich decided to move back to Ohio to be near family and both Hospice organizations helped make the transition possible. His son Zack and many dear friends remained in California but this decision was the right one for everyone involved. It allowed Rich the dignity and respect to spend his final weeks as he had spent his life - in the company of loved ones who honored his choices. Remembrance Gatherings will be held at Copperfield's Books in Petaluma on 8/18/13 at 6:30 p.m. and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron on 9/8/13 at 2:00 p.m. For more info contact Polly ( *protected email*) Sophy ( *protected email*) or Zack ( *protected email*). In lieu of flowers donations can be sent in Rich's memory to the American Booksellers Foundation for Freedom of Expression (www.abffe.org). For more information please contact Polly ( *protected email*) Sophy ( *protected email*) or Zack ( *protected email*).