Obituary of David L. Rickerson

David L. Rickerson Hagerstown, MD David Lee Rickerson, 62, passed away unexpectedly on June 23, 2016. David was born on September 13, 1953 in Johnson City, NY, son of Alva Lee and Mary Lou (Wallach) Rickerson. In April 1972, Dave enlisted in the US Air Force and served until his honorable discharge in May 1974. On November 29, 1980, he was married to Barbara Potter. Dave was an accomplished and very talented engineer. He invented and installed the first vision guided robotics system in the food industry in the world while at Pepperidge Farm. He was invited to speak at DisneyWorld in Florida with regards to Robotics in Industry. Dave was loved and respected by those he worked with. Over the years, numerous people have stated that he was "the best boss" they had ever worked for or could hope to work with. Dave was a distinguished member of "Who's Who Worldwide" and was included in the Registry of Business Leaders for demonstrating outstanding leadership and achievement in this profession. Dave was a member of PADI Diving Society and was a certified scuba diver. He loved the world beneath the surface of the water and spent many hours enjoying the beauty and wonders found there. Dave loved all animals and respected them. He drove on many transports for animal rescue. He was involved in multiple rescues including bottle feeding and 'babysitting' newborn orphaned kittens and giving homes to unwanted dogs. He fed and cared for all the wildlife in his former home including possums, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, foxes, and bears. He had a tender heart and was always generous. He was known to pay for the meals of strangers and elderly people in restaurants, much to their delight and surprise. Dave loved his 'furkids'. They loved him as well, and all mourn his loss tremendously. Daisy Mae misses the morning routine of ball throwing and fetching with her best friend and is searching for Dave everywhere. His kitty friends (Tinker, Leo, Lily, Snookie, Smudge and Smidgeon - his 'Little Little' who chose him as her 'dad' at the age of just 17 days old) miss him terribly. His 'grandkittens' (Ashley and Snickers) howl and call for him. They all miss their 'snuggle buddy'. Dave is survived by: his wife of 35 years, Barbara Rickerson; daughter, Jessi Rickerson Zeleskey; his mother, Mary Lou Rickerson; Uncle, Robert Wallach; mother-in-law, Susan Potter of New Berlin, NY; brother-in-law, Rich and Lisa Potter and their daughter, Caren of New Berlin; sister-in-law, Lynda and Charles Janovsky of N. Syracuse, NY; cousins, George, Joe and Bobby Wallach as well as several other cousins, nieces and nephews. Dave was predeceased by his father, Alva Rickerson. Friends are invited to call from 10:00am to 12:00noon on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney, NY 13838. Funeral services will begin at 12:00noon at the funeral chapel with Rev. Ernie Varga officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the South Windsor Cemetery, Windsor, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to one of the following organizations: OMC Rescue; Only Maine Coons Rescue is an organization that rescues maine coon kitties, like Dave's Tinker, from kill shelters and other dangerous situations. They vet them, foster them, and find them loving home; online at www.omcrescue.org/donate.php or via mail: OMCRescue, 110 Austin Ave., Abescon, N.J. 08201 Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary; rescues, shelters or rehomes blind cats www.blindcatrescue.blogspot.com The Grannie Project; rescues and rehomes elderly cats, www.thegrannieproject.org Magnificent Cat Rescue; rescues and rehomes cats from high kill shelters. http://magnificatrescue.org Nowzad Dogs; rescues stray and abandoned animals in Afghanistan; reunites military dogs with their owners/trainers; online at www.nowzad.org or via mail: Nowzad Dogs NFP 3105 Prospect Rd. Peoria, IL 61603 Imagine Home: Volunteers transport cats from dangerous situations/kill shelters to new homes across the country. Mailing address: In care of: Teresa Dechert, 30 Midvale Ave., Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034: PayPal Address: donations@imaginehome.org Underground Railroad Rescue Kitty Network (URRKN): Transports endangered cats to new loving homes via volunteer drivers. https://www.paypal.me/URRKN Essence of Animals Rescue, Inc, 3101 Heights Road, Aliquippa,PA 15001 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org