From Sarah Lloyd Bennet

Hey All,

It is through a raging torrent of sorrow and tears that I write to you this morning. I wanted to, need to... reach out and celebrate the tower of power and amazing friend and human being that Ricardo was and always will be in our hearts. The thought of going onward through my days without the energizer bunny's blinding light of good vibe shining down on us is almost too much to bear. I know how much he cherished all of you. Ricardo loved us so generously and it was so easy to love him back. My gratitude for being part of that web is boundless.

I need you to know that yesterday was a spectacular day, the turns supreme, and Ricardo was gleaming to the power of 10. He noted the quality of the turns were some of the best he'd ever had, said that he loved the Wasatch and would always ski here no matter where work took him, and let on that he was thinking about buying a place in Moab. We giggled and laughed about all sorts of things and made several long forays down memory lane in the realm of live music and mountain bike rides, mostly for Joey's sake. We talked about some of you. I've kept tabs on many of you over the years through Ricardo who always loved to update me on your latest. He loved to share and I loved hearing the caring and devotion to you in his stories. He talked a lot about the test he was getting ready to take, the string of incredible job offers that have recently come his way, and some of the lucrative projects he was getting ready to apply himself to. One thing is for sure...professionally Ricardo was on top, and he knew it. It was fantastic to see him in that place, and ready to take on the next challenge. So phenomenal to have been so accomplished at both recreational AND professional pursuits.

Although there are many more details of yesterday to share there is only one thing I need you to know NOW...Ricardo did not suffer. He was as well, as happy, as wonderful as I have ever seen him and in a matter of seconds it was over. As he bounded away out of sight on our last run, making his classic big-stance turns, we marveled at the man, the humor, how much fun it was to be with him, and then he left in a thunderous roar. The sequence of events that followed were agonizing but Joey's ski and patroller background, the fact that I had a phone and we were so close to Solitude meant that the rescue went as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible. In the end, it wouldn't have mattered if we had gotten to him in two minutes, the trauma he sustained in the slide was catastrophic.

For more than 25 years I loved Ricardo with all my heart. He was one of the finest human beings I have ever had the honor to know and call a friend. Anyone who had the good fortune to rub up against Ricardo during his too-short time with us has learned to live better for it. I can't even begin to express the incredible gratitude and blessing I feel for getting to spend those last few hours with Ricardo yesterday. They will forever be some of the finest of my life. As we muddle forward over the next few days, weeks, months and years without our friend, trying to live with this unbelievable loss, we can honor him by living it up, getting down, making it funky, loving each other, and carrying on the positive every day. Love you, Rico...love you so much.

Taken on our last skin...1/27/2010