Obituary of Rick Allen Grutka

I've never written an obituary before. So I was as surprised as anyone when they asked if someone wanted to write one for my father today as I said 'I'll do it' as I sat in the same funeral home we had planned my mothers funeral in 14 years ago. This will hopefully capture the man, father, husband and person that Rick Grutka was. Rick was born on May 22 1945 in Syracuse, NY where he lived a majority of his life. Graduated from CW Baker High School in Baldwinsville where he would return to raise the first half of his family. In high school he excelled at sports making the varsity gymnastics team and playing baseball which was the great love of his life. He dreamed of playing at a higher level. He spent a year at Ithaca college before marrying Connie and having children. As people do. He was a salesman working for various fleet leasing companies in the region. Started a landscaping business. A trading card store. He was successful in some. Others not so much. He also had some extra kids- all boys, just to be an over achiever. None of these careers would define him however. He spent many hours driving his first group of children to music performances. Auditions. Dance practice. Soccer. Gymnastics meets. Lacrosse games. Orchestra practice. Later, countless days on the baseball field with his 3 youngest. Coaching many teams from little league and youth baseball all over the county. This year he was inducted into the Baldwinsville Baseball Hall of Fame. He lived the bulk of his last years in Lakeland Florida with his wife Denise. I think of my sister Marta who has travelled the world. My brother Eric who is a private chef. My brother Marc who is a philosopher and student of the human condition. My brother Jon who has a beautiful daughter Lucy and is a successful businessman. My sister Marcia who runs a personal development company and has raised two perfect girls. My youngest brother Andrew who lives with his wife and new son in Philadelphia. Me. A musician with six dogs. What makes a life? Rick was tough. Smart. Funny. Loud. He made mistakes as we all do. He could be closed off. He could make you feel like you were a thousand feet tall. Today I spent hours in a storage room filled with stuff. Furniture. Clothing. Appliances. Legal papers. Amongst the neatly packed boxes and containers were a treasure I sort of knew existed but was never sure. Every single person in his life. Every one. Had something saved. Homework. Childs drawings. Christmas cards. Newspaper clippings. Pictures. Thousands and thousands of pictures. Music. Instruments. Baseball score books. Photos he had downloaded from the internet when one of us had accomplished something. A storage room. It was hard to go through. Tough memories. It was beautiful. Unexpected. Here in this small room. Was my Dad. Was Love. Rest easy Dad. We miss you. Calling hours are 4-7 Monday, September 16 at Falardeau Funeral Home, 93 Downer St, Baldwinsville. Services is 10 am Tuesday, September 17 at Falardeau Funeral Home. Burial is in St. Mary's Cemetery, Skaneateles.