Author Information
"Posthumous Letter to Rick Briare"
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Tributes -
Rick,
You were my boss for eleven years and I considered you a friend. You were the type of boss who would always offer encouragement and praise when warranted yet were not afraid to be direct and tell us exactly what was on your mind either. And you always had a lot on your mind!
This store was like a child to you. You treated your employees with the respect of a father, especially during your last few years. When your drinking problem became more under control, you were a very decent and fair man.
I must admit, when I first started working here, I wasn't very fond of your company. In fact, I was a bit intimidated by your demeanor. This may not seem to be the right time to be bringing up the "bad times" or the questionable behavior you exhibited (upon your death), but I bring this up now to contrast the change and repentance you displayed. Not everyone knew the new man you became. Many only knew you by your alcoholic tendencies. Well, I am writing this to allow people whom you may have hurt or embarrassed to see who, at the end of your life, you became! Upon the time of your death, you'd given up smoking and drinking and transformed into a very respectable and admirable person.
When friends of mine would say "You're not going to work at Tower all your life are you?," it initially was taken as a put-down, but now I am proud to work here and let people know, even though the pay could be better, it's definitely a fun job and I see no problem dedicating my life to my job like you did.
Many of my fondest memories of you were times we shared sports stories, discussed marketing and sales strategies for my Singles Section, and hearring your infectious laugh from your office.
All of us here at the store sadly miss you, your "human-ness" and your fairness. Not all of us agreed with you, some of us didn't even like you, but one thing is for sure, you impacted us all.
I remember one comment you made while I sat before you in your office during a raise review you were doing for me. On the section asking whether or not I got along with the other employees, you commented "Jeph even gets along with me!"
You knew your faults, but unlike so many of us, you genuinely tried to do something about it. Although your life was a short one, at the end you left us on top of your world.
Sincerely,
Jeph Johnson, 1998
Your Singles Buyer
