Richard Washington, longtime Island resident and native of Everett died on August 30. Kathy and I met Richard and his beloved wife Carol and their family through Paul and Louise Johnson decades ago. We found their family history on the Vineyard interesting and compelling.
Paul and Richie were first cousins as their mothers, Mildred and Edna Ford, owned cottages in Oak Bluffs on Tuckernut and Pacific avenues, respectively. Their aunt Irene owned a third cottage in the Highlands. Consequently, both grew up in mid-20th century Oak Bluffs running from cottage to cottage and in between throughout the town.
Both loved the water and had separate boats and sailed around the Vineyard and frequently to Newport to enjoy the popular Newport Jazz Festival. Richie was an extraordinarily skilled yachtsmen and owned several properties in the Caribbean including St. Kitts and most recently in St. Lucia.
On his 70th birthday he hosted a lavish birthday party in St. Lucia that was attended by over 100 people. Friends from Los Angeles, Boston, the Vineyard and the Caribbean graced his villa, yacht and his special venues for that weekend. The cousins decided, over the objections of family, that they would man the boat from Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands all the way to the Vineyard with a stop in Bermuda.
Several days after leaving port some level of communication calmed the nerves of anxious family members until they arrived in Bermuda and were met by Vineyard friend Lynette Glover, a native of Bermuda.
The leg from Bermuda could be treacherous, and impatient family members sought out the Coast Guard to ensure that these two seafaring pals were not in harms way. Richie was so upset when the Coast Guard tracked them down that he did not speak to Louise Johnson for a month. This incident was the subject of many laughs, complaints and bemusements over cocktails for many years that followed.
Richie took his sailing seriously and his famous yacht Hot Chocolate created global notoriety for him as he raced in numerous regattas. He was the first Black commodore of a major Los Angeles yacht club. I can recall vividly our conversation one evening how he dressed up in his full commodore regalia and went unannounced with Carol to the Edgartown Yacht Club hoping to have dinner. When approached by the hostess at the door he presented his credentials from his yacht club in Los Angeles and was indeed seated. This too was the subject of folklore and lively conversation over the years.
Diving for coins off the Oak Bluffs Steamship pier was a frequent activity that Richie and others enjoyed during their youth. Body contortions, deep diving, swimming against one another to compete for the coins was perhaps an early spark for Richard to become the very famous stuntman in Hollywood for his unprecedented career. He earned his first film credit as a stuntman in 1971 for the film Dirty Harry. This would lead to extraordinary roles in films like Cleopatra Jones, Scream, Battle for the Planet of Apes, Conquest for the Planet of the Apes, The Abyss, The Goonies and Die Hard with a Vengeance. He worked alongside of Richard Pryor and Cecily Tyson as the stunt coordinator for Bustin Loose and Some Kind of hero. His other major film credits include Mississippi Burning and Glory.
In his later years, Richie hosted Croquet games with Carol on their sprawling farmland off Lamberts Cove Road. For the less agile there was horseshoes, along with delicious eats and drinks. Only Covid stopped this summer gathering. What a magnificent life for many to ponder and use for reflection. Richie is now with his cousin Paul sailing and diving with the Greek Gods of heaven under the watchful eye and protection of the Greek God Poseidon.
He leaves his wife Carol, their two daughters Kym Washington-Longino and Lisa Walker, along with two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Two of the busy art galleries in Oak Bluffs enjoyed a banner summer. Cousen Rose Gallery treated visitors to a range of different art forms including encaustics, abaca and collages. In addition to seven artist receptions, the gallery featured book signings by April Ryan, author of Black Women Will Save The World; Charlayne Hunter Gault, author of My People; David Steele, author of It Was Always a Choice; and finally Tom Dresser and me featuring our Book Black Homeownership on Martha’s Vineyard: A History.
Knowhere Gallery’s season actually began in April with an exhibition in the Venice Biennale where Valerie Francis curated an exceptionally memorable exhibition entitled: A Common Thread Binds Us. It charted our collective journey through life from birth to our ultimate transition. In Oak Bluffs, there were multiple thought-provoking exhibitions including Sea Change, Legacy of a Dream Walker among others that provoked engaging visitors and customers from all walks of life.
Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as life is fleeting!
Randall Edward, Rest in Peace!
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