I'm so sorry to come back so soon with more awful news. Our classmate Rick DeMartino passed away today after a long fight with cancer. Rick's best friend and our classmate, Vance Boos, heard from Rick's wife this morning.
This really hurts. Ricky was a great fun friend all thru high school and beyond. Ricky was a good man and fun to be around! We chose the same profession so catching up at the various reunions were always fun. It was like no time had passed. I'm so sorry that he suffered later in life! We are all on that slippery slope now.
Rest in Peace my Brother in Blue! Looking back on some wonderful memories!! 🙏💙🇺🇸
Rick and I met in the 8th grade at Beverly Vista School and became fast friends for life. We both loved fast cars and lots of excitement. I think we were both adrenaline junkies. After Bev High, we both decided to enlist in the Navy together as the draft was breathing down our necks. We got out in 1974 and Rick had a goal and finally got his dream job on LAPD. He was a senior narcotics detective for many years and eventually became a manager when he made Lietentant. He retired around 2012 with 37 years on LAPD. That is an incredibly long time to be a cop. I went on the LAFD and we would run into each other at crime scenes and fires. I spent a lot of time at his house and he at mine. Both of our fathers worked to teach us and encourage us to walk a straight and honest path and to avoid getting into any serious trouble. It worked! At his core Rick was a generous and kind man. He was kind to everyone except for a few bad guys he had to deal with. I will miss him terribly. He died Saturday from cancer. When I got that news I cried and then prayed for him. Rick rest in peace. No more pain and I hope to see you again one great day. Vance
I will never forget the time, many years after high school, that I saw Rick standing alone under the overpass as National Blvd. crosses under the 10 Freeway. I was driving and yelled out the window of my car "Hey Rick" to get his attention. Rick yelled back "I'm working undercover." I kept going hoping I didn't blow his cover. We laughed about it at the next reunion. Rick was a great guy. We spent many hours together on the playground at BV. He will be missed.
I spent some time hanging out with Rick. He was a fun-loving guy who didn't want to miss a moment and opportunity to play. He especially got a kick from riding shotgun in Steve Kincaid's father's yellow convertible Impala. it's a wonder we didn't wind up wrapped around a tree. I guess life had different plans for us after all. I was impressed by his success in the LAPD and the dedication and commitment he demonstrated. Like so many Angelenos he loved to be on the water and I'd like to think that having a line in the water kept him in touch with that great beyond. I'd like to believe that in his last moments, he set the hook and it was "fish on", that would make it easier to leave it all behind.
Lynn Mayer (Smith)
My heart goes out to Rick's family and friends. A kind and caring man. He will be missed.
Lauren Levin (Lind)
Very sorry to hear about Rick. Love & condolences to his family & friends
Maurice "Mo" Angel
This really hurts. Ricky was a great fun friend all thru high school and beyond. Ricky was a good man and fun to be around! We chose the same profession so catching up at the various reunions were always fun. It was like no time had passed. I'm so sorry that he suffered later in life! We are all on that slippery slope now.
Rest in Peace my Brother in Blue! Looking back on some wonderful memories!! 🙏💙🇺🇸
Vance Boos (Boos)
Rick and I met in the 8th grade at Beverly Vista School and became fast friends for life. We both loved fast cars and lots of excitement. I think we were both adrenaline junkies. After Bev High, we both decided to enlist in the Navy together as the draft was breathing down our necks. We got out in 1974 and Rick had a goal and finally got his dream job on LAPD. He was a senior narcotics detective for many years and eventually became a manager when he made Lietentant. He retired around 2012 with 37 years on LAPD. That is an incredibly long time to be a cop. I went on the LAFD and we would run into each other at crime scenes and fires. I spent a lot of time at his house and he at mine. Both of our fathers worked to teach us and encourage us to walk a straight and honest path and to avoid getting into any serious trouble. It worked! At his core Rick was a generous and kind man. He was kind to everyone except for a few bad guys he had to deal with. I will miss him terribly. He died Saturday from cancer. When I got that news I cried and then prayed for him. Rick rest in peace. No more pain and I hope to see you again one great day. Vance
Alan Duke
I will never forget the time, many years after high school, that I saw Rick standing alone under the overpass as National Blvd. crosses under the 10 Freeway. I was driving and yelled out the window of my car "Hey Rick" to get his attention. Rick yelled back "I'm working undercover." I kept going hoping I didn't blow his cover. We laughed about it at the next reunion. Rick was a great guy. We spent many hours together on the playground at BV. He will be missed.
Evelyn Zelmanovitz
"You can't have heartbreak without love". Rest in peace dear sweet Rick
Brian Grad
I spent some time hanging out with Rick. He was a fun-loving guy who didn't want to miss a moment and opportunity to play. He especially got a kick from riding shotgun in Steve Kincaid's father's yellow convertible Impala. it's a wonder we didn't wind up wrapped around a tree. I guess life had different plans for us after all. I was impressed by his success in the LAPD and the dedication and commitment he demonstrated. Like so many Angelenos he loved to be on the water and I'd like to think that having a line in the water kept him in touch with that great beyond. I'd like to believe that in his last moments, he set the hook and it was "fish on", that would make it easier to leave it all behind.