Stephen Richardon:  

My Life in My Own Words 1959 to 1966 I was born in Washington DC at George Washington University Hospital to an Episcopal minister and his wife. I was the 3rd of 3 children. Shortly after birth, my Dad was transferred to Decatur, GA where he served St Timothy's church. When I was 3, my family was involved in a terrible car accident, near Evergreen, Alabama, that killed my mother and brother- the middle child. I had a head injury and was in a coma for 5 days. According to my medical records, when I woke up I asked for Coca-cola. I had to learn to walk and potty trained again. My Dad also restarted putting me to bed at night with a bottle filled with Nestles Quick- Strawberry was my favorite. I never attended kindergarten and began the 1st grade at East Ward Elementary - located in Gulfport, MS in 1965. My older sister and I lived with my father's parents during this period of time. Midway through my second grade year, my sister and I were flown out to CA to be with our father and his new wife. ================================================================ 1970 to 1973 In 1970 my parents moved the family to Phoenix- my dad did not have a job but there was a couple living on an abandoned farm in south Phoenix where we stayed in an old barn that had concrete floors and a swamp cooler. My dad was hired to be a handyman at a company that processed pig shins for use in the management of burn injuries in hospitals. My father advanced into the sales area and was salaried. We purchased a house in a "new" subdivision near Tempe Diablo stadium. Although technically in Phoenix, my sister and I attended schools in the Tempe school district. This was the first time that I recall when the home setting seemed to stabilize. My father was unhappy with his work and there was a tavern in Tempe , on Mill Ave, that my Dad decided to purchase. The name was changed to "The Asylum", and my father wanted to reach troubled individuals and touch their lives in a positive way. My Dad was naive in thinking that he could make a difference. Motorcycle gangs were warring over the "territory" and threatened my Dad's and mother's lives. Since our accident, my sister and I never stayed in any school for more than a year- 'till moving to Phoenix. I started the 6th grade at Gililland Junior High school and graduated from Gililland JHS from the 8th grade. My 8th grade year was the best year of my primary school years. I was in the Honor Band and Mr. Pearce was the best band teacher, overall the best teacher I ever had. I had a crush on a girl name Denise and, as I was very shy, it took all of my courage to ask Denise to our 8th grade graduation dance. I lost count of the number of times that I dialed her number and would then hang up before I finished dialing. Finally I let the phone ring and Denise was on the line...she politely turned me down. She said she was just going to go alone with one of her girl friends. My sister graduated from Tempe HS in 1972. I was to attend Marcas de Niza HS in the 9th grade but my parents decided they wanted to leave Phoenix and, so, we moved to Kirkland, Washington, where their Junior HS was 7th to 9th grade. Yes I had 4 years of middle school and did not flunk to do it, lol. ================================================================ 1973 to 1974 During my 9th grade year in Kirkland, WA, I was despondent for half the year. I wrote a "love letter' to Denise in Tempe, AZ and she politely, rebuffed my advance. She was kind enough, to reply to my letter and left open the opportunity to...Expand for more