Mr. Ricci Chalmas Haddix

RICCI CHALMAS HADDIX (35) was born September 22, 1982 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the loving union of Phil Haddix and Jeannette Ingrid Haddix. Ricci was the youngest, "the little one" as he would say, of three boys born to this marriage. Ricci's family included two older brothers, Kwanza K. Haddix of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Phillip B. Haddix (Marcelle) of Syracuse, New York. NEIGHBORHOOD RICCI grew up in the Sherman Park Neighborhood of Milwaukee with lots of nearby family, close, and fun-loving friends. An ideal neighborhood for raising children with values capable of sustaining both the individual, family, as well as, the major institutions we have come to rely on for RICCI, and all others, to feel safe and secure, as a people. FAMILY RICCI's family became a blended family on June 21, 2008 at the marriage of his father to Rosemary Crump, resulting in the blessing of, not only, a caring and loving step-mother, but also, a third brother, Marques R. Crump. Ricci has always valued family life, and therefore, warmly welcomed the blended union of his father, whom he called "Big Phil" and his step-mother Rosemary. One of the true high lights of Ricci's wonderful life was to stand as his Dad's best man to support this union, as his step-brother, Marques, gave his mom to his father in holy matrimony, before family and close friends of both he and Marques -thank you Rosemary, Marques, Family and Friends. SPIRITUAL RICCI's early spiritual life was formed and nurtured at home and in selected neighborhood summer Bible classes. As a teenager and young adult, he attended Park Lawn Assembly of God, under the leadership of Bishop Walter Harvey and First Lady Judy, whom he loved and respected -thank you Bishop Harvey, First Lady Judy and Park Lawn Assembly of God. Since moving to Oak Creek (2007), RICCI continued his spiritual growth and development at Oak Creek Assembly of God at the invitation and leadership of Senior Pastor Jerry Brooks and First Lady Sherry, whom he also grew to love and respect. RICCI continued his affiliation with Oak Creek Assembly of God after he and his step-brother Marques purchased their home in Cudahy (2012). He attended Wednesday night programs and Sunday services as often as his health would permit. His most recent visit was to see the annual Christmas Play, which he has always enjoyed. Sometimes it was difficult to know whether RICCI was inspired by Pastor Brooks' message or more by the family's routine plans to have brunch following church at one of many of his favorite community restaurants - thank you Pastor Brooks, First Lady Sherry, Oak Creek Assembly of God and Restaurateurs who got to know this truly wonderful and remarkable human being. BIBLE STUDIES Shortly after moving into their own home, RICCI and Marques begin to host a monthly Bible Study Session at their own home. These sessions were initially facilitated by their mother, Rosemary, with carefully selected support from family and friends familiar with the Bible and lovingly supportive of RICCI and his Step-brother Marques. RICCI attended, enjoyed, learned, and benefited from all study sessions conducted at his home -Thank you Rosemary, Marques, Kwanza, Aunt Dorothy "Dort', Pat Johnson, Rev. Dr. Jeffry Hawkins, wife and daughter, La Warrell and wife Carolyn Cain, and RicMar Care Team Members (CTM's), for assisting RICCI in making the crooked places of his spiritual life straight. EDUCATION RICCI was proudly formally educated in Wauwatosa Public Schools at Wilson Elementary School, Whitman Middle School and West High School, where he graduated in the year 2000. RICCI also received Home Schooling via the leadership of his mother Jeannette, from the time of his accident (1993) until she became too ill to teach, just prior to her death in 1999 - thank you Jeannette and Wauwatosa Public Schools. INTERESTS RICCI was a "people person": he enjoyed being with and around people as much as possible. He seemed to thrive on social inter- action, particularly when events involved family and friends. As a little boy, some of the ways he liked to spend his time included picnic/ fishing with his uncle Gilbert, whom he called "frog': attending basketball games and tournaments to watch his big brothers and their friends play at Washington, Nicolet High Schools and AAU Basketball. RICCI played organized soccer prior to his accident (1993). RICCI was a loyal Green Bay Packer fan. This interest was particularly fueled, as a small boy, when he had cousins who played professional football and he was able to venture behind the scenes at games to meet some of his favorite players, have them visit his home after home games, for one of his mom's delicious soul food dinners, and visit his school the next day to meet his classmates. RICCI looked forward to attending his Aunt Joan and Uncle LaRoye's Annual Super Bowl Party, paticularly when Green Bay was involved (1997 and 2011) - thank you Aunt Joan, Uncle LaRoye, Michael Haddix, Wayne Haddix, the Green Bay and Tampa Bay NFL Organizations and teammates, respectively. RICCI also enjoyed Traveling with his family. As a child, he was treated as if he was the chief "papoose" as he accompanied Jeannette, as he lovingly called his mother, to many of her out of town National Conventions and Conclaves held by the Squaws/Charms, a national civic organization with a long and distinguished history of promoting and advocating for the issues, concerns, and rights of Women across the country. His visit to Houston Texas and the Nation's Capital (Washington DC) were particularly memorable. RICCI took great pride as he stood in the middle of the gigantic, Multi-purpose Astrodome with his Dad and uncle La Roye for pictures to memorialize this important visit. Since relocating to the Cudahy community, RICCI has looked forward to and truly enjoyed participating in Cudahy's Annual Fourth of July Parade -thank you Esther Kiepert and Mayor John Hohenseldt for what has been an experience RICCI has looked forward to and enjoyed each year. VACATIONS None of the rather frequent and extensive family vacations proved more satisfying and personally rewarding for RICCI than his many trips to Daytona Beach Florida, Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, and the many other beach related attractions and events shared with both family and friends. RICCI particularly enjoyed documenting his fun on video with his neighborhood friend Chad Wilson behind the camera - thank you, to the Smallins, Evans, Temple, Williams, Chisley, Wilson, LaWary, Ward, Houston, and Crump families for the many, truly unforgettable, fun filled, sunny, beach front vacation experiences throughout RICCI's childhood and adult life a special thanks to RICCI's "cameraman" and childhood friend Chad. REUNIONS As a deeply family-oriented person, RICCI has always treasured attending Family Reunions, even at times when his health was not necessarily stable enough for long-distance travel. He absolutely loved spending "May in Memphis" earlier this year (2017), including his visit to, the nationally recognized soul food restaurant, Sweetie Pie's the Upper Crust, and seeing the iconic Gateway Arch, both located in St. Louis, Missouri. He also enjoyed the Memphis Roof Top Bar B Cue, hosted by his cousins- thank you Cousins Karen and Nana for your planning and Cousins Gyasi, Wakenya and Marley "Little Jeannette': for graciously hosting this memorable event. MUSIC RICCI loved music of all types. His favorite artist was Michael Jackson. He also enjoyed and appreciated the professional musicians in his own family. As a boy he loved listening to his uncle Gilbert "frog" and other members of the Milwaukee Esquires at impromptu, back yard, private jam sessions. More recently, RICCI liked the front row seat treatment at Summerfest, when his cousin, Johnny Moore, performed with the contemporary Milwaukee Esquires - thank you Uncle Gilbert Moore, Cousin Johnny Moore, and members of the Milwaukee Esquires for the added value and pleasure your music contributed to RICCI's life. Likewise, when RICCI's uncle Travis performed at Summerfest or at a nearby venue, RICCI soaked up "down-home blues" as if he was born and raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the Delta birthplace and home of Mississippi style blues. RICCI traveled to Chicago's Rosa's Lounge twice to attend live concerts. On RICCI's most recent concert inspired trip, he enjoyed visiting with family, taking part in a pre-concert dinner meal at a popular Italian Chicago Restaurant, but was too tired to attend the evening concert as planned. However, so typical for both RICCI and his loving family, he negotiated with his Cousin Glenda Campbell, to telephone a bit of the blues to his hotel room - life goes on - Thank you Cousin Glenda and Uncle "moon Child" Haddix for using available modern technology to quietly and efficiently mitigate yet another barrier to a full, and well deserved, quality life for RICCI. GIFTS If the old saying, "it is better to give than to receive" is true, RICCI is indeed better than most, as he has always demonstrated a passion for giving his entire life. This aspect of his personality became even more pronounced and complex after the childhood bicycle accident (July 22, 1993), at age 10, resulting in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). For the first time in his life, RICCI travelled to Syracuse New York to celebrate his birthday with his childhood roommate, family mentor, and brother Phillip, whom he called "little Phil" This was also special for RICCI because, also for the first time, he shared this milestone 30th birthday with his Nephew Phillip Jr., whom he called "Sports Writer" So very characteristic for RICCI, not only did he shop for gifts for his Nephew, he purchased gifts for the entire Haddix household. For most of the month of September, prior to his trip to Syracuse, he insisted on caring his bag of selected gifts with him each time he left his home, to make certain that they were not left behind when we travelled to New York for his party. RICCI has not been happier in life than when it came time to present his gifts to his beloved Syracuse family, and to be treated to a huge, joint, birthday cake that featured a photo of he and his Nephew, capped off by a Southern Style Bar-B-Cue Dinner at the popular Dinosaur Restaurant - thank you "Little Phil': Marcelle and "Sports Writer" for the gift of a life- time for a person who, himself, exemplified the true value of giving. HOME The August 24, 20 12 co-purchase and ownership of his own home in Cudahy, Wisconsin, with his Step-brother, Marques, was the biggest life-goal accomplishment for RICCI. To have had his first experienced living away from home in Hospitals, and Community Based Rehabilitation Facilities (CBRF's), this accomplishment was even more special for RICCI than for most - thank you Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Wisconsin's Self Directed Waiver Program (IRIS), Pledl and Cohn, S.C. "Rock": Judge Lindsey Grady, Howard Mandeville, Movin'Out, Ine., George L. Morris III, M.D., Madelaine T. Tully, M.D., Shekhar A. Dagam, M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, the many Care Team Members (CTM's), Geri Lyday, Milwaukee County, Officer Steven Swoops, Wauwatosa Police Department, Milwaukee Guardianship Alliance for IRIS Participants (MGA), and so many others who assisted RICCI in his efforts to live a self-directed life with as much dignity, independence, and quality as his complex medical condition would permit - at all times, in all places and among all people - a special thanks to RICCI's late Mother Jeannette, and his Step-Mother, Rosemary. JOINED On Thursday, December 28, 2017, RICCI joined his mother, Jeannette, and other Maternal Grandfather, Johnny Watts (2001); Uncle, Teddy Washington (2005); Uncle, Travis La Wary (2005); Cousin, Dominic Booker (2004); Aunt, Delphia D. Ward (2008); Uncle, Gilbert Moorer (2008); Cousin, Kimberly Washington (2011); Aunt, Lora Gay Love (2012); Aunt Essie M. Haddix (2015). LEFT RICCI leaves to cherish his loving memory: his father, Phil Haddix, his Step-Mother, Rosemary Crump- - Hddix, his brothers, Kwanza K. Haddix, Phillip B. Haddix, Sr. (Marcelle)- Syracuse New York, his Step-Brother, Marques R. Crump, Aunts Edwina Scott, Victoria Carlyle (2000); loving family members, who preceded his transition to his spiritual life: Uncle, Alvie L. Haddix (1992); Uncle, Cloise A. Haddix (1993); Aunt, Grace DeVault (1995); Paternal Grandfather, Chalmus Haddix (1997); Mother, Jeannette L Haddix (1999); Aunt, Nancy Moorer (1999); Cousin, Dorothy La Wary, Joan Chisley (LaRoye), Dolores Washington, and many other cousins, close relatives and friends. MESSAGE RICCI and Agatha Christie's fictional character, Miss Marple, would assert, "a weed is only a plant in a place you don't want it to be" not so unlike people with disabilities who are only humans in a condition you or they don't want them to be in. As a civil, caring society, our biggest challenge is to remember - at all times, among all people, and in all places- humans, with or without disabilities, and irrespective of their social, economic, or medical condition, are not weeds, no matter the place they happen be.

Mr. Ricci Chalmas Haddix

September 22, 1982 - December 28, 2017