Birth date: Jun 18, 1956 Death date: Sep 3, 2021
Richard Norman Caron, 65, Palm Harbor, Florida and Truro, Massachusetts. Died peacefully among family on September 3, 2021, from metastatic melanoma. Ever-optimistic lover of life, family, fishing, salt air, and campfires. Insati Read Obituary
I worked on a few occasions with Rick and had the opportunity to meet him as I travelled to the USA for some Food Service shows. I did not know him well but through the years I got to appreciate his talents and kindness.
The memory I want to share happened during a recent conference call we had together. We were both connected with a live web cam and he noticed in my background a painting that I had purchased recently. It is a painting of a low tide seascape after a storm with a boat laying on its side. Very colorful artwork with sharp geometries produced with a palette knife. When he asked me about which artistic movement it belonged to, I was a bit embarrassed because I did not know… So, I just said “impressionism… I think”.
On the following conference call, I had to correct myself as it actually belongs to the figurative movement. It was his turn on that day to take me through the artwork in his office, showing me some Indian totem pole representation and their spiritual symbolic. It was a simple and nice exchange.
There was something special about Rick. He stood out. His passion, his intellectual curiosity, his kindness, his ability to see positivity in all circumstances were outstanding and so was his ability to share. Coming back to the topic of art, I attach the picture of a painting by a French artist Eric Richet ; the title is “Tous aux fourneaux” or “All at the stoves”. It is also an expression that means “All at work” in French. This painting reminds me of Rick. First of all because of the cooking, the equipment side of it, the hard work and this Chef in the corner that stands out amongst the crowd.
I see Rick here. Looking normal but radiating intelligence and sincerity. This ability to look at things from different angles which then open your eyes to the multiples facets of what surrounds you. I did not have the opportunity to tell him about that painting which of course I regret today so I share it with you now.
Marc Le Belleguy
I have been thinking about Rick and his family a lot. Rick was my mentor. We worked together on many projects at ADL, starting in the late 80-ties when I came as an intern from the Netherlands and helped with the Automated French Fry Machine for Taco Bell. When he named his son Lucas, born around that time, I felt an even stronger connection. Later, we worked on other projects like the glass block factory in PA, BIGOT cigarette factory in Venezuela, Frymaster, and others.
Rick worked hard but also played hard and unconventionally. In a bar in Port Allegany, we had a conversation with a guy wearing a pet boa constrictor around his neck-- another had a huge iguana on his shoulder. Rick was so engrossed in talking with them and waving his arms and hands in a manner that I was afraid the snake was going to jump at him. We ended up playing darts there but instead of the usual 8 feet or so, we ended up throwing darts as hard as we could from all the way across the bar-- about 60 feet. Excited as a little kid, he had that famous smile on his face the whole time. In the cigarette factory in Caracas, I remember him trying to explain in Spanish that we had a problem with the glue which was held in a huge bucket near the machine. Again, he was waving his arms and hands and finally, he dipped both hands in the "potte de pega" to get the point across. At that moment, Rick became a legend.
Yes, the first fax machine. I remember Rick asking the main person at the Gas Research Institute what he could improve and the person answered something like better and faster communication. The fax was Rick's answer and for the first few weeks, it was only dedicated to GRI.
I attended quite a few meetings with Rick and many he led. I still use one of his signature moves. Rick asked at the beginning of a meeting, "What would it take for you to say at the end of this meeting that this was a perfect meeting?"
I also knew him personally. One day when I went on a camping trip to the Boston Harbor Islands with my 5 year-old son and some friends, the boat was cancelled due to bad weather. I didn't think it was that bad and because I knew that Rick had a boat in the harbor, I called him. He came over in the middle of the storm, loaded us all on the boat, dressed us in survival suits and headed out into the ocean. We ended up returning but his willingness to try to get us there, pushing the limits, was exactly his "life-philosophy".
He had a million ideas a minute. He would put me on one path and when I was about to show him the progress, he could storm in the next day and change course 180 degrees. I loved working with him. We often created multiple proof of concepts or mock designs while others were still debating on what the best approach would be. He was a do-er.
He came to my wedding in Upstate NY in 1992 and his video tape is the ONLY one we have of our ceremony.
I will really miss him but thinking of him will always put a smile on my face, although not as nice as his.
LOVE and strength to his whole family.
Lucas A.
I waited this long to post something because I have many Rick Caron stories.
Rick reminded me of what and old chef told me back when I was a Line cook.
“ You can learn from anyone if you keep an open mind, and when you believe you know everything is when you know nothing”.
Rick used to listen to my ideas and feed my innovative nature. He taught me that innovation is never easy because it is unknown, and in many cases doomed for failure. But if one is a true innovator you never stop thinking of ways to improve things.
In my mind, if I could get someone as smart and innovative as Rick to listen to me and spend hours discussing it I must have something.
I have few Idols in my life but Rick was one who taught me to use my creative nature as a Chef to develop solutions.
Every time I spoke with Rick I would learn something new. He had an incredible amount of positive energy. Here's a photo from the Hofbrauhaus Brewery in July 2017.
My deepest condolences to Rick's family and the entire Welbilt team. I will miss his spirit and optimism.
Joan Chow
This February Rick shared a glass of Amarone with me (virtually)….
I started working with Rick in one of the first synergy projects of the cooperation with an European brand.
During his and our visits (no video conferencing at that time) it became obvious that Rick not only loved technology but loved also people.
He managed to build international teams, always respectful, always without “bossing”.
He was able to bridge a philosophical view on the world with a pragmatism to execute global projects.
And there was always time for some fun and enjoy: playing spiderman for kids, eating roasted swine ears, spontaneous fishing with his team mates etc.
Rick, we will miss your enthusiasm.
we will miss your extrovertly
we will miss you.
Our thoughts are with your family,
Stan
very sad news. He was the most energetic at WELBILT both during NRA and NAFEM shows, and even during the exhibitions he ran in the morning and came back hotel all sweat! he drink well with the loudest voice at dinner. He was a big boss we can trust as a distributor. I wanted to have Yamazaki Cappuccino again at NOBU. we feel more sad because we couldn't catch up under this situation. I can't imagine Rick Caron sleeping quietly, but we send our sincerest condolences to his family and all in WELBILT from Tokyo.
TATSUYA Uneoka
TOEI KOGYO CO.,LTD.
I really enjoyed every interaction I had with Rick over the years. It was always exciting to work with him on leading technology. Enodis, Manitowoc Foodservice and Welbilt would not have pushed the boundaries without Rick. He was inspirational, incredibly intelligent yet always approachable and warm. I’ve always admired his work ethic, energy and ability to connect whether it was in front of an audience or in a one on one conversation. I miss him greatly and will treasure the inspiration he has left me and all of us.
