Remembering Dick Stiles

Editor’s note: The following is a tribute to the late Dick Stiles, who died in a car accident on Saturday, May 29, north of Cambridge.

I had known Dick Stiles for over 38 years and he had been a very special friend of mine for over 36 of them. We started playing on an adult soccer league when we were both just in middle school.

In high school, we were inseparable. We wrestled together and had a special group of friends we called the “Smiling Assassins.” We were a  group of wrestlers that had a special bond and did most everything together. Our motto was “United we stand, divided we fall–the Smiling Assassins will whip them all.”

If you want some good oldies, ask one of these guys.   Please don’t get the wrong idea that we were a bad group of kids. Yes, we did get into some trouble. Trust me, we were not angels. But the trouble that we got into was nothing serious. In our senior yearbook, a cheerleader even stated that the most fun she had during high school was “singing Beach Boy songs on the wrestling bus with the Smiling Assassins.”

We had some of the most fun and memorable parties at Dick’s house. I think at one of them, the whole high school was there.  Please don’t tell Dick Sr. or Gloria. I don’t think they know we had parties there. Let's just keep this our little secret!

After high school, Dick and I had a job doing telephone drops for a company that had a contract with Northwestern Bell in Muscatine, IA. It was one of the most fun jobs I ever had. The telephone foreman, who we met each morning to take us to our job sites, was also a great guy who liked to play pranks. He greased our door handles once, and Dick decided we had to get him back.

The following day, the foreman leaves us for a few minutes to make a quick phone call to see where our next job was. Dick right away grabs some phone line, strips both ends and sticks one end in the truck engine spark plugs and runs the other end under the dash and onto the truck’s passenger seat. I was the driver of the truck (the company didn’t trust Dick driving).

Anyhow, the foreman comes back after only being gone a few minutes and he sits right on the bare wires, not knowing of course. I was looking away the whole time because I could not keep a straight face.
The foreman asked me what was so funny and Dick says we better get going. I started the engine and believe me, the foreman got the shock of his life as he let out a big yelp. I think his hair got curlier than mine that day.  Thus, was Dick’s start in the electrical field.

As we got older, married and started having kids, we did not have as much time to spend with each other. But we always knew we were “only “a phone call away, and we also knew we could always count on one another. No matter what!

Dick, as well as my other best friends, was the pallbearers for my grandfather’s funeral. At my wedding six years ago, I gave Dick as well as the other guys a beautiful glass sword to show my appreciation for their friendship. My martial art students still to this day remember the look on Dick’s face when I presented his to him. Dick had a huge grin from ear to ear.

Dick, as everyone knows, told the best jokes. I bet he could tell one after another for 24 hours straight and not repeat one. He had a memory like no one else I know.  Whenever we got together at Stooges, aka Dick’s Place, Dick would always want me to share a martial art technique on “someone” and he would always get the biggest laugh.  I felt sort of bad but Dick was very adamant that this person really wanted to feel and experience it “first hand.” Now I have his sister, who will remain anonymous, trying the same thing. Must be something in their gene pool.

As can be attested to by his visitation, Dick touched far more people than even he could have imagined. It was the largest turnout for a visitation I have ever seen or been to. Dick was constantly helping someone out or organizing something or another to benefit some person or cause. He had a big–no, make that a huge heart.  Maya Angelou, the famous poet states, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Dick’s soul must have surely been liberated a thousand times over.

Myself, I carry a heavy heart and I am sure plenty of others do, too. Dick was this bright shining star that could not be contained nor kept all to yourself. I would like to thank Kim and her children and also Dick’s parents, brothers and sisters for sharing him with all of us.

Dick cannot be replaced, and he will always be remembered. I am proud, honored and privileged to have called this person one of my best friends. I will never forget him. His name was Dick Stiles and he was ONE OF A KIND!

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Jan Butler, Orion