Richard Massey

Richard Derrick Massey, 70, passed away after a brief illness on November 19, 2022, accompanied by his wife, Rachel, and son, Victor at Adventist Health Simi Valley Hospital in Simi Valley, California.
Rick was born in 1952 in Burbank, California, the son of Ray Massey and Barbara Parcel and the brother of Tom, Mark, Kevin, Brian and Daphne. Rick graduated from Royal High School in 1970, part of its first graduating class, and earned his associate degree from Moorpark College. Years later, he would earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix.
Rick worked in the aerospace industry for over 40 years, with the bulk of his career spent with Northrop Grumman. Early in his career, while working for Teledyne in 1989, he met his future wife, Rachel. Their relationship progressed quickly, beginning as frequent conversations at work and leading to a first date at Dodger Stadium.
A die-hard Dodger fan, Rick wagered that if the Dodgers won, then Rachel would have to pay for their second date, but if they lost, then he would pay for the next date—and he did. What followed was a whirlwind four-month romance. Rick and Rachel wed on December 28, 1989, in a private ceremony in Lake Tahoe attended by Rachel’s teenage son, Victor.
Rick was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing and skiing. He played softball. In addition to the Dodgers, Rick supported the Lakers, Rams and Kings—a true LA sports fan. He instilled his passion for baseball in Victor, taking him to see the Dodgers play and watching the games on television. Trips to Dodger Stadium became a perennial activity for father and son, where they witnessed several incredible moments in Dodger history, including Eric Gagne’s consecutive saves streak, the famous four-plus-one game and several playoff games.
Rick loved movies and books, with a particular affinity for science fiction and fantasy stories. Friends and family will attest to his culinary talents, as Rick loved cooking meals for them. His lasagna was a legendary dish, and he also had his own unique spins on macaroni & cheese, potato salad and homemade Mounds candy.
Rick was kind, humble, even-tempered and generous, always willing to lend a hand with a home-improvement project or the use of his truck. Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him loved him, with nobody ever speaking ill of him. His big heart endeared family and friends alike to him—no one more so than his wife. Everyone noted how inseparable they were.
In addition to his wife Rachel and son Victor, he leaves behind his three dogs Luke, Rosie and Sandy; his daughter-in-law Amy; his brothers Tom, Brian, Kevin, Mark, and Mark’s wife Karen; sisters Anna, Aggie and Sylvia; brothers Ernie, Cheeky, Sam, Dennis, Ray, Willie, Mike and Raul; grandnephew Chris; and many beloved nephews and nieces. Contact the family for details on Rick’s memorial service.