Rich Sirken:
CLASS OF 1964
Riverview Gardens High SchoolClass of 1964
St. louis, MO
Rich's Story
This is what I have become:
Father
Three daughters and one son, all married. There are fourteen grandkids, now, with the likelihood of two to four more. But, the numbers do not mean all that much. The significance of being a Father lies not in how many, but in the nature of the relationships. I am surprised to find myself with something to offer, and the means to place myself where I can reach out to my kids. Since I left home and became alone at age eighteen, I did not understand what adult family relations could be and I am pleased that fortune finds me where I am. Perhaps it is the influence of my wife, or Church connections, but whatever the source, when there is pain or joy amongst my children and their spouses, I seem to be there with something to offer.
And, Michael Caine¿s character n ¿Cider House rules¿ says his fate was to become ¿father to the fatherless¿. We have nurtured 28 foster kids, three of whom who have become a part of my emotional and spiritual fabric as a father. Until I became a foster parent, I did know such pain, nor the perverse comfort that attends those trying to restore what was lost, or promised and never given.
Husband
We met under circumstances that one thought would never lead to a long lasting relationship, but Barb and I have been married thirty seven years. She never ceases to amaze me, and her major flaw is that she turns a blind eye on my personality and forgives my eccentricity. I always thought that we lived in the remote places we did because it was my mission to tame the Forest and make it productive. In reality our greatest accomplishment is hers ¿ she has tended the unwed teen age mothers of Detroit, the children of abuse in too many places, the children whose circumstance leaves them unable to live in a world of school and poverty, the parents whose lack of skills leave them at their children¿s mercy. That¿s my wife.
Forester
I wanted to merely be a Forester and spend my days in the woods. Instead circumstance forced me to the upper echelons of my profession, with too many accolades designed as much to commit me to causes as recognize my accomplishments. I have, by providing the right people with the right environment and resources, made a major impact on the way the forests of eastern North America are managed. The tools that Foresters use do not have my name on them, but when I pick them up I know their content, form and substance, because I was an instrument in their creation.
I have had the responsibility for managing land in its fullest expression. Areas expressed in seven figures {acres}, crossing international borders were my responsibility. T...Expand for more
he responsibility was multi-dimensional. In the territories absent a local civil administration, I was law enforcement, public road maintenance, and arbiter of disputes. I commanded the local air fleet, and coordinated fire protection between towns, state and provincial, and Federal governments. I was boss, labor negotiator, grantor of special natural resource use permits. {I was recognized, however, primarily by the fact that two of my daughters, 6¿4¿ tall, played on the local High School Basketball team. One daughter went four years with only one defeat}
Woodworker
Yeah, I¿ve never made any money at it. My wife¿s definition of woodworking talent has to do with fixing broken things. My vision of the craft is the design of tools and jigs. Thus, my workshop does not sport much fancy woodworking, but I have some of the most ingenious jigs known to mankind. No dust collection system yet though. I think one definition of heaven is that all woodworking shops are 1} heated2} have incredibly effective and efficient dust collection systems.
Story Writer
A man I admire greatly is a retired Methodist Minister who goes around the country telling stories of his childhood. I asked him why his stories were all about himself and his childhood. He said ¿because these are my stories. The stories of my children are theirs to tell¿.
That¿s not me. My lot is tell the stories of the kids I¿ve known who cannot tell them on their own.
EMT
Enough times out in the woods facing an injured logger left me desirous to know what to do in the face of injury. I have worked full time reducing the level of misery and agony among loggers, lobstermen, and tourist and found it to be a satisfying, but poorly paying profession. The downside of this work is dealing with those with chronic illness, mental and physical, and drug and alcohol abuse. These people generally cannot be saved, only comforted.
Bishop
As if though I did not have enough to learn about Fatherhood from my own children, I have been the presiding Priesthood authority in three different locations for my Church. I have stood with those who have suffered immeasurable loss, and comforted them; I have counseled teen agers on the brink of disaster, seniors on the brink of ruin, young couples choosing ruinous ways. I did not win all of the battles I set out to win. But I did win often enough to be satisfied and at peace.
Real Estate Manager
Capitalizing on all of my land management experience, and time spent with high priced lawyers, I am now buying and selling {and trading} real estate. I also negotiate and write leases for the University, and run their GIS mapping system.
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