Obituary of Richard D. Rilliet

** Richard D. Rilliet of Landing, NJ peacefully passed away on January 11, 2012 at home with his wife Susan by his side after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 60. Born in Paterson, Rich grew up in Ridgewood & Waldwick, graduating from Waldwick High School. He attended New York-Phoenix School of Design in NYC & Bergen Community College. ** He apprenticed as hand engraver for 2 years, then jeweler for Adrian Jewelers, Wyckoff. He continued studies at GIA in NYC & CA. Relocated to Santa Barbara CA 1989. Custom jewelry maker & hand engraver, Rich designed for many private clients & finer jewelry stores in Santa Barbara. ** Live music was a passion that Rich indulged from an early age. A self-taught musician, Rich played in bands locally in high school. An accomplished guitar player, continued to play in bands as an adult. Prior to CA relocation, Rich was lead guitarist with Mechanical Bride. ** Rich met beloved wife Susan (nee Barker) of Park Ridge in Los Angeles 1991 through their mutual love of music & art, animals & the desert. They spent leisure time hiking the deserts of CA & loved mountain biking under a full moon in Joshua Tree, coyotes trotting alongside. In 2000 Rich was engaged by Tiffany & Co. as a master engraver & the couple returned to NJ. ** Rich enjoyed attending live concerts, taught himself to play mandolin & ukulele & learned to build acoustic guitars. He was passionate about animals & animal welfare, adopting & sponsoring many needy animals throughout his life. ** Beloved husband of Susan, dear brother of Arlene Garrett and her husband Nick, Rich is survived by extended family & faithful feline friends Twinkie, ZoZo and Derby. ** Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend a celebration of his life on Saturday January 28 from 3-7PM with Memorial Service at 5PM at the Robert Spearing Funeral Home, 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, NJ 07656. Afterwards, family and friends will gather at Burke's on Old Hook, 65 Old Hook Road, Westwood, NJ 07675 for pizza & live roots rock 'n roll. ** Memorial donations may be made to: Best Friends Animal Society: www.bestfriends.org. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: www.mskcc.org/giving National Colon Cancer Research Alliance: www.eifoundation.org/programs/eifs-national-colorectal-cancer-research-alliance Defenders of Wildlife: www.defenders.org