Shane
Richard Dee Otvos was born Baby McNeeley on December 3, 1957 at the Daniel Freedom Hospital in Inglewood, California.
When Richard was three days old, he was transported by car by his new parents, Paul A. and Mary W. Otvos, to his new home at 959 Farley St., Mountain View, California, Santa Clara County, California. Rick weighed 8 lbs., 1 oz., was 22 inches long, and bald-headed. He was a well developed, beautiful baby. His parents were so excited and in seventh heaven.
At Christmas time, I (his mother) was able to hold Rick in my arms as I rocked him and sang Silent Night. I felt very close to Mary and Jesus, for I too had been blessed with a gift from God.
Early in October, our Bishop Lyle B. Egan had called to ask us if we wanted to adopt a baby to be born in December. We were ecstatic. The bishop owned a plumbing shop and one of his workers had a cousin in the Los Angeles area who was expecting and was not able to keep the child. We waited three months until Rick was born, and then went to the Los Angeles area to pick him up. We stopped every four hours to heat a bottle, otherwise, he slept all the way home to Mountain View. Three baby showers were given for Rick, our friends and relatives were so happy for us. - Mary Otvos
Rick had teeth by the time he was three months, walked at 8 ½ months, and finally had enough hair to comb by nine months. At 10 ½ months, for Halloween, he walked around the neighborhood as Santa Claus and stole the show. He was the apple of the eyes of his parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends.
Rick developed a love for camping at the ocean when he was only one year old. He called the ocean “Hyden”. He loved to run into the surf and come out again when you called him, making a scalloped effect, as he ran down the beach with us following. He would then take a nap and we would recuperate until he awoke and started again. We camped at Sunset Beach with the Baker family. Their four children were great with Rick. An old oil drum in back of the restrooms served as Rick’s horse and he kept the Baker kids busy taking him to the restroom and horse. Rick was potty trained at one year. After a camping trip at 18 months, he never needed another diaper, day or night. Our vacations while Rick was young were either camping at the Redwoods or beach, or visiting our relatives in Utah. We all loved it. Rick had a small root beer at about 8 months and after that, he often asked for a root beer or ham-murmers (hamburgers). He also loved Chinese food.
When Rick was three years old, I took care of a little girl his age, Patty Bacon. They were the best of buddies. As they approached a house on Halloween, they would say “It’s Halloween time!” and not “Trick or treat.”
As Rick grew, he had many birthday parties at home, carnivals, parks, etc. He also got to ride ponies and even an elephant or two. Rick’s grandparents and family came in the evening for dinner and cake to finish the celebrations.
Christmas was always exciting. Christmas morning, he always started dumping the sock goodies on the floor before opening packages.
When Rick was 3 ½ years old, we sold our home in Mountain View, California. We rented an apartment until our new home was built. Our new home in Cupertino, California was larger, nicer, and the weather was great. We lived there for over 30 years. Rick turned four just two days after we moved in. Rick learned to ride a two-wheel bike within two weeks. We bought him a secondhand two-wheeler and he loved it.
In 1961, we bought a new rambler station wagon. In 1963, we took a month-long trip to the East Coast. The station wagon became our home by day, staying in motels at night. The trip was wonderful. We all wanted to stay longer.
At five, Rick started Kindergarten. Gina, a neighborhood girl, came by to walk Rick to the bus each morning. Rick loved school and was an excellent student. He was a very happy child who loved to play and have surprises. One day, he came in from playing, and asked what a “sissy” was. I explained it was someone that liked to play with girls. “Oh, is that all?” he said, and went back to playing. There was only one younger boy in the neighborhood and five girls near his age.
Each year in our Cupertino Ward, a children’s Pioneer Parade was held in July. Rick took 1st place as Brigham Young and his wagon also took 1st place. He took the neighbor kids to Primary with him. Rick loved church and was attentive. One day, the leader asked what the three men were called that went to the Baby Jesus. Rick raised his hand and said, “Smart men.” He always volunteered to say a prayer or scripture in the big primary.
Rick started taking piano lessons at about age seven. He liked it and did well. However, during baseball season, he played ball, then went back to the piano. He used his talent many times, even as an adult working with youth; but mostly he used it for his own enjoyment.
Rick loved Little League baseball. During the four years he played, his team always took 1st place. Rick was a star on the team.
Grade school went by quickly. He participated in the music program, was on the school patrol, worked in the library, and for two semesters, he was president of the student council, an office he ran for and won. He liked to keep busy. I never had to scold him to do his homework. He came home from school, changed his clothes, did his homework, and then the rest of the time was his own to play. He watched TV sometimes during an evening, but would rather play basketball, football, or baseball when it was daylight.
Rick loved cub scouts. He earned all the badges. I was den leader and the cubmobile (rambler station wagon) and took the cub scouts on many outings. They sailed boats they had made down Steven’s Creek, had picnics, bowled, took mystery trips, rode a train, etc.
Pack meetings were great with pinewood derbys, rockets, skits, and dinners. The den activities ran from a bicycle obstacle course, making a bench with a compartment in it, cooking, and swimming. Rick spent many hours in our eighteen-foot dough-boy pool swimming, diving for coins and marbles, and playing Water Polo. Our neighbor had a built-in pool, but the kids always ended up in our pool to play games. Rick was an excellent swimmer.
One morning, Rick’s cousin Sam Wilson came for a three-week visit. The boys played in the pool for hours. During Sam’s visit, we took a trip to Los Angeles. We all enjoyed Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and one day in Tijuana.
Rock loved animals. He had several cats, but only one dog (Kutcha, which means “dog” in Hungarian). One cat was hit by a car. He came home and survived because of Rick’s faith and prayers.
Rock continued on with his scouting. At age 14, he became the first Eagle scout in the our new Cupertino Ward, just having been divided from Sunnyvale Ward.
Rick graduated from grade school and started Kennedy Jr. High School. He did well and made the honor roll many times. He still kept up with his sports. After two years at Kennedy, he went to Monte Vista High School.
Rick participated in other sports - football, wrestling, and baseball where he won the most valuable player award on the Junior baseball team.
Rick started dating. He never missed a Sadie Hawkins dance where the girl asked nor any other. When going to a formal ball, he would bring his date to the house for us to meet and see how they looked. We, as parents, felt a part of his life, whether it was ball games, overnight parties, dances, etc. We always appreciated this and his love for us.
Once Rick was old enough to work, he always had a job. One summer he held three jobs, working at a computer place for four hours in the morning babysitting two boys in the afternoon, and at an ice cream parlor and snack bar for four hours in the evening. He always brought home ice cream for us. He was always considerate of others and had a sixth sense as to what should be done, and he did it. When I would be sweeping, he would get the dust pan without being told.
During the summer between his sophomore and junior years, my husband and I were trying to decide where to go on vacation. Some friends had just moved to Hawaii. I said, “Let’s go to Hawaii.” My husband was almost asleep in the chair, and woke up with a start. Rick was at a church dance. The next morning, we asked him about it. Within minutes, he was on the phone calling friends and the airlines. The next thing we know, we were in Hawaii, on a wonderful vacation. Rick had visited Hawaii with his scout troop and had wanted us to go. If it had not been for him, I’m sure we would not have gone.
Rick participated in all the mutual programs, dance festivals, music programs, plays, speech festivals, dances, parties, outings, 50-mile hikes and summer scout camps. He was always on the go.
Rick and his friend Jeff attended a scout jamboree at Farragut, Idaho for a week. It was a highlight of his life. Rick’s dad and I picked Rick and Jeff up at the jamboree in a 24-foot motor home, and for three weeks, traveled in Canada. What a fun trip! We hated to come home.
In 1955, we bought a Model A 1931 Ford for me to drive to school where I taught. When Rick was born, I quit teaching and my husband started driving the Model A, so I could use the rambler station wagon to carry the kids in. In 1965, we put the Model A to rest until Rick was old enough to drive. In 1976, Rick and his dad started working on the Model A. The motor was overhauled, and the body work was done. After hours and hours of sanding, the finish coat of red paint was put on, just in time for the country’s 200th birthday. It was classy.
The car was beautiful, but there was one problem - whenever he parked it, vandals would steal parts, scratch the paint, or otherwise damage the car. His fun was short-lived. Later, he sold it for a good price to help finance his mission.
Just before Christmas, Rick was chosen to be a madrigal, the elite choral group at Monte Vista High School. It was a wonderful experience. Since it was the bicentennial year, the music was honoring the country. They performed all over the country and in May, traveled to Alaska and Canada to complete. There were only 26 people in the group. They sang as one, under the master teacher Jack Lindsay. The group sang, danced, and performed. They were a joy to watch. Rick grew up by leaps and bounds with that experience. He met a girl in madrigals, named Brenda. The two looked like brother and sister. They had a ball together.
In February, the Marriott Corporation was opening an amusement park in Santa Clara County, about five miles from our home. It was called Great America. They were hiring high school students to operate the rides and act as cartoon characters. The park opened on Saturdays and Sundays before school was out. Rick was hired to run a ride. Later, he became Bugs Bunny. He loved it and played the part to the delight of kids and adults alike.
Rick graduated in the spring of 1976. His graduation party was held at Great America. The graduates were able to go on any rides as much as they wanted, eat what they wanted, and dance to any one of several bands. The park was theirs all night. Rick and Brenda had a blast.
Rick also graduated from four years of seminary. Seminary met at 6:30 AM, weekdays, at our chapel. From the chapel, he went to school for early morning madrigal practices. The madrigals sang for the last time at graduation. There were many tears as the group had become very close. Since school was out, Rick enjoyed working at Great America to save money for college.
In the fall, Rick and his buddy, Jeff, headed for a year at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. As we dropped the boys off, they both wanted to go back home. As the year went on, they loved it at B.Y.U.