RICK DAVANZATI (1931-2014)
Rick Davanzati owner of Signs by Rick was, if nothing else, a character you would never forget. He always had a joke or ten for you. Rick was a huge supporter of the trail and often donated signs for the trail. He was also an integral part of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon and one of the two founders of the Butler Road Race. If memory serves me he was one of the original sweepers (bicycle escorts) and he was in his 70's at that time. Rick would entertain us all at packet pickup.
Rick was an avid runner, cyclist and turkey hunter. He was a very talented artist, the sign you see at Fellowship Crossing in Butler is the last piece he designed for the trail. He served in the Navy during the Korean War.
Rick loved riding his Bianchi and you are not a cyclist until you have ridden with THE Rick Davanzati. It was a ride, I will never forget.
Every time, I visited Rick he had words of encouragement, finishing the trail into Butler was not easy or fast...slow and steady wins the race. I had been contemplating doing the MS150 Escape to the Lake Ride in 2014, on my last visit he said to me, that when I would feel the wind on my face, it was him pushing me along and “Time is a precious gift, use it wisely, for time is swift”. I took his spirit with me on that ride and a day has not gone by that I don’t miss him.
We never know who is going to enter into our lives at the perfect time for the perfect reason.
Wait...wait..wait...got time for one more joke.
Happy Trails, Chris Ziegler
