It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Richard Spini on July 27, 2025, at UCSF Parnassus Medical Center. Rich was the cherished husband of Jane, and the loving father of Annie and Maggie. He died from complications from an aggressive cancer shortly after being diagnosed, at age 68.

Rich was a native of Ferndale, graduating from Ferndale High in 1975.  Here, he enjoyed playing football, and his dairy upbringing instilled a strong and lifelong love for animals and the outdoors. He went on to Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where he and Jane met. They were inseparable from the age of 18 onward. He graduated from Humboldt State University in 1980 with a degree in biology. He and Jane got married in 1981 in Trinidad. Rich then attended University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1984.

Rich had a forty-year career as a pharmacist in Humboldt County, starting at Ron’s Villa Pharmacy in McKinleyville, working for Ron and Betty Bottemiller.  After the Bottemillers retired, Rich began working at United Indian Health Services in Trinidad, and he later designed the new state-of-the-art pharmacy at the UIHS site in Arcata.  After several years there, he joined forces with Patrick Cloney and began running Cloney’s Pharmacy on Harrison Avenue in Eureka.  They, along with partner John Backus, later expanded to McKinleyville, where Rich worked until retirement in 2021.

Things changed dramatically from the beginning of Rich’s career to the end.  When he started, he was typing prescription labels on a real typewriter, answering the phone for prescriptions that were called in, and insurance for prescriptions was almost nonexistent.  He enjoyed his role as a community pharmacist, becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator and helping people with the management of diabetes, giving vaccinations, and always being available to help with questions and to offer support.

In his free time, he was an avid sports fan, following the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and Duke basketball. He was compassionate with animals and loved his pets, taking care of many dogs, cats, and chickens over the years like family members.

Rich was a kind and loving husband. He was a wonderful companion who enjoyed sharing his varied interests with his family. He enjoyed plants and gardening, birds and the outdoors, learning about practically any topic, and following the news and sports. He loved taking long drives together listening to his favorite musicians, including Van Morrison and Neil Young. He took great joy in making breakfast on the weekends with his family.  His light-hearted presence in the room always brought joy.

He absolutely relished the role of being Dad to Annie and Maggie.  He loved his daughters fiercely. He was so proud that both became physicians, but more importantly, that they grew into strong and kind young women.  Last summer, he was thrilled to participate in Maggie’s wedding to Sanket Patel at the San Diego Botanical Garden, ecstatically welcoming Sanket to the family as his son-in-law.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; two daughters, Anne and Maggie (Sanket); his mother, Joyce; his brother Ron (Monica); brother Mike (Cindy); as well as his much-loved aunts, Gaylene Dudal, Dolores Bell, and Betty Deacy, and his nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father, George Spini; his sister, Lynda Spini; and his in-laws, Tom and Doris Montgomery.

We will be fondly remembering Rich at a memorial at the Portuguese Hall in Ferndale on September 27, 2025, from 1-4 p.m.  Family and friends are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rich’s memory to Miranda’s Rescue, Humboldt Library Foundation, or Save the Redwoods League.