Richard Jeremy Shiekman (a.k.a Witty), was born January 29, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA and passed away on January 30, 2016 in White Plains, NY—he was 64. He is survived by his loving wife, Meryl Moss, two sons, Alexander and A.J. Shiekman, his father Morton “Pop-Pop” Shiekman, brothers Larry and John Shiekman, sisters-in-law Dona Shiekman and Joanna Cline, a smattering of nieces and nephews and more friends than any man had a right to. He is preceded in death by his doting mother Roberta Shiekman, who passed on January 2, 2016. Richard passed away due to complications resulting from Cancer.
The youngest of three children, Richard was a shameless “mama’s boy” —helping Roberta in the kitchen and learning the culinary trade secrets that would make him a masterful chef and host later in life. In his youth, Witty attended Camp Greylock in Beckett, MA (as did his father, uncle, brothers, nephew and sons) and was selected as the “Pick of the Camp” in his senior year Red & Grey — a distinction awarded to the best all-around athlete. His athletic acumen was a trait inherited from his father Mort Shiekman, who was an All-American Football player at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1940s. Later, while attending Atlantic City High School, he was elected class President by his peers, and took it upon himself to re-write the school charter.
Following High School, Richard chose to attend the University of Pennsylvania (as did his father, mother, uncle, aunt, brothers, nephew and niece) where he majored in literature and undergraduate women. On weekends, he would often travel the roughly sixty miles from Philadelphia to his parent’s home in Margate, NJ to raid the storeroom of his father Mort’s liquor store — Downbeach Liquors. It was said that Richard had the best stocked bar on campus. At Penn, Richard embraced all that the 1970s had to offer — growing his hair long (e.g., well past the small of his back) and following the Grateful Dead on tour.
After graduating in 1975, Witty packed up and moved to live in Gevrey-Chambertain in Burgundy, France, where he trained as a Stagiaire (professional wine-taster) and learned his trade from notable figures in the industry such as Jean Michel, Thomas Bassot and Tim Marshall. Upon successful completion of his training, he returned home to assume a Vice President position in the family company — Parliament Wine Company—importing high-end French Wines. According to Richard, he “ate and drank professionally.”
Living in New York City in the 1980s, he met a beautiful young attorney from the Pacific North West, Valerie Ebert. They were married in 1983 in Everett, Washington. Although the marriage would not ultimately last, they collaborated to produce two (nearly) perfect sons. As Richard was doted upon by his mother, so he doted upon his children. He never missed a baseball or soccer game — and even attended an astounding number of practices. Every year on the eve of the Camp Greylock Parents’ Weekend, Richard would bribe his way into camp — smuggling in milkshakes for his sons and their bunkmates. His sons will always remember their annual spring ski trip to Vail, CO, quarterly pilgrimages to Margate, NJ, their father’s perfect comedic timing and his contagious laughter.
Richard Shiekman was a “Connector” per Malcolm Gladwell’s definition in his book The Tipping Point. On weekends, Rich would often sit in the living room of his Weston, CT home making countless phone calls (usually equating roughly to four to six hours of pure phone time) — catching up with dear friends from around the world. His call sheet was long and distinguished, and he impressively had every phone number committed to memory.
Through one of these friends he met his final great love, Meryl Moss. Meryl and Richard were married in April of 2013 in West Palm Beach, FL. Together they traveled the Amalfi coast, to the South of France, around wine country and to Richard’s home away from home — Paris. After their second date, they were inseparable until the day of his death. They spent seven blissful years together which were, by all accounts, the happiest of Richard’s life.
Richard was a masterful joke teller, gourmand, an accomplished chef, loyal friend, dutiful father, adoring husband and self-proclaimed “great wife.” He will be missed.
Funeral services were held at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home on Monday, February 1st, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are made to the Cancer Research & Treatment Fund (CRT.org).
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