Remembering Richard Simmons (July 12, 1948 - July 13,2024)

It was a curiously warm afternoon in San Francisco. The chill that normally permeates the air was absent. Some friends and I decided to take a walk in Chinatown…the year must have been around 2003-2004. As we were passing by the souvenir shops on our way to a restaurant that someone recommended, one of our friends jolted across the street.

I couldn’t imagine what would cause such hysteria? Then I saw who my friend was running toward, Richard Simmons. I’m not one to bother celebrities. They are people just like everyone else and I’m sure they get tired of being rushed in public. In my tour guide experience I had two high profile recording artist and performers on my tour. One mentioned that she wanted to go to Walgreens, but the other discouraged it because the other artist was afraid of getting trapped behind people wanting pictures with them. They avoided it to try to go undetected. Yet as we rode around the Quarter people wanted their pictures when we stopped at stop signs.

Nonetheless, I went across the street with my friend (The one that’s behind the camera taking the pic below). To my delight Richard was really receptive. I told him it was a privilege to meet him. He detected where I was from by my accent and he asked me if I was from New Orleans. After confirming he told me that he was too!!!!

I had no idea he was from here. Why hadn’t anyone told me? We tend to really shine a spot light on our celebrities. Why wasn’t he being celebrated like our other icons. These are questions I still ask. After chatting and reminiscing over familiar places, I asked him what part of the city he grew up in. I was even taken further aback when he told me he grew up in the French Quarter.

We didn’t want to take to much of his time even though he was willing to stop and talk. After learning that he was from New Orleans I had to get a picture with him. In that short encounter, he came across as genuine, friendly, and caring. That’s how he reached his audience.

Richard you ran your race, you made an impact on millions of peoples lives and well being, now rest in power my fellow New Orleanian.

Yours truly,

Eric Gabourel