Richard 'Rick' Van Tassell... Wrestler Coach Legend Brother ...
Celebrating his Life...
b. 15 August 1960 - d. 9 November 2024 Ayer, Massachussetts
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Thom Duffy is with Michael LoFurno 11 November 4:18 AM
Co-Founder of Spartan Wrestling Club of Philadelphia established 1991, Fixture of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Leather Community and a LEGEND to the World of Gay Wrestling leaves behind a legacy of community sports organizing and camaraderie in wrestling.
Richard Van Tassell passed with his family and longtime friend at his side in Massachusetts on the morning of Saturday November 9th, 2024. He is survived by father Richard and mother Gail.
Michael Zuzu Philadelphia 10 November
Gene Dermody Golden Gate Wrestling San Francisco 17 November
I worked with Ricky for many years both in Wrestlers WithOut Borders (WWB) and the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) from the early '90s when we both saw AIDS causing blatant discrimination and destroying our wrestling communities.
It was a cause that needed the likes of a Tom Waddell to step up and inspire true egalitarians like Ricky to fight.
We became good friends and allies in shaping the Gay Games, Mission through its most successful and stressful years.
We shared a close bond with our mentor Coach Kevin Martin who kept us focused on that Mission.
I cherished many Christmas dinners with Ricky and Mike Zuzu at the Conshohoken home of our FGG leaders Teresa Galetti & Kathleen Webster.
We were a powerful FGG team, that did everything we could to keep Gay Games under the control of the athletes in the LGBT Sports Sanctioning organizations like WWB et al, and not the Hotel/Tourism Cabals which preferred to do easy PRIDE Celebrations, and would eventually come to corrupt the bidding process.
Laura Moore New York City 17 November
Rick and I met in the late 1990s, when we were both "observers" to the FGG Board under the old system.
We sat together at the back of the room, listening but forbidden to speak aloud.
We went before the Membership Committee at the same time, stressing over whether our respective organizations would pass muster, knowing that the FGG actually needed us.
Doug Litwin Rancho Mirage 18 November
Rick was a true "character" with an infectious sense of humor that could make anyone laugh, even in the midst of serious discussions about a topic.
At all the FGG meetings I attended starting in 1999, he was always deeply involved in meetings about governance, membership rules, and other related subjects that many people saw as arcane.
But, these complicated rules form the backbone of an organization like the FGG and Rick was determined to do these things the right way.
Wayne Morgan FrontRunners Sydney AU 19 November
Loved learning from the Philly team at Policy and Procedures meetings….RIP
John Marshall Phoenix Spartans WC 12 November
I am terribly sorry about Ricky's passing. I thought the world of him. He was a character. Wiry, crazy strong. Well- read, and I think almost shockingly sharp mind and an athlete through and through, but patient with those of us who weren't, except perhaps for waiting for me to finish a sentence with my drawl. Sympathies to family and friends.
Chris Lorefice Wrestlers WithOut Borders Philadelphia 17 November
One of the founding members of the Philly Spartans Wrestling Club back in 1991, Rick Van Tassel gave a lot of his time to the club over many years.
Rick is part of our WWB History, and will be greatly missed in the WWB community.
Please take a moment to reflect on his story and how he and many others provided the foundation of today’s WWB.
When you think of the Bike Stop bar, the early years of the Spartan Wrestling Club, and Team Philadelphia, many leadership characters come to mind - but one individual stands out as being the most colorful. Richard Van Tassel known to everyone as Rick. For decades, starting as early as 1990, he can be seen everywhere in Philadelphia adorned with human teeth necklace and usually shirtless bouncing around networking for the Spartan Wrestling Club, Team Philadelphia or tending bar at the Bike Stop.
Despite his rough and snarky exterior Rick was a kind, smart, funny and at times revealed a tender soul to those close to him. He was a hard worker as a contractor/handyman, bartender, community organizer, wrestling and BJJ coach as well as a competitive athlete.
Rick traveled the globe competing in several regional and international wresting and combat tournaments including several of the
Gay Games starting in 1994 in New York City.
Rick was ahead of the game regarding Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives in any organizational space he rallied for and led. He often looked to individuals of many gender identities and expressions as co-leaders and also recruiting for members of the organizations he took interest in.
In 2008, Rick was honored with Wrestlers WithOut Borders Don Jung Hall of Merrit induction. The award is to honor people who have displayed sacrifice and selflessness to encourage others to achieve as much as they could and to create safe and supportive wrestling opportunities for athletes regardless of skill level, gender, orientation or age.
Wrestlers WithOut Borders was started by club representatives attending Gay Games III in Vancouver in 1990. It helps develop polices and develops wrestling at the Gay Games through its voting membership in the Federation of Gay Games.
Rick’s energy will be missed by many but his light will shine bright in everyone he touched. His advocacy work for LGBTQ athletes has impacted many who share interest in wrestling and combat sports and will continue to do so for years to come in the good spirit of camaraderie and unity that meant so much to him.
Continue to shine bright Ricky Van Tassel, and Shine Strong.
It was your passion for sport and predilection for organizing, that took us down a path I would have never imagined doing on my own and I am forever grateful. For many years we were inseparable, and it was your driving force that reinvigorated Team Philadelphia in the 90’s and lead the effort for the Team to become a key mover and shaker in the Federation of Gay Games, forging a path of empowerment not just for me, but for so many of Philadelphia’s gay & lesbian athletes. It was such a joy to share those experiences with you. We shared so many adventures together that will stay with me forever. From the multitude of sports meetings across the globe (Denver, Vancouver, Berlin, South Africa, Montreal, Paris, and Cologne) to our many adventures afterward as we attempted to release the stress from the meetings.
The weeks we spent in Berlin, Paris, the Australian Outback, on an African safari, and of course, climbing Kilimanjaro, are treasured moments. But the ones I will hold dearest to my heart are the moments we shared with our mothers running the 4x100 mixed relay at the Gay Games in Chicago. Sharing that family moment with you and our mothers was a moment I’ll never forget. And our simple, yet magical, New England vacation on Cape Ann was probably the freest I had ever seen you. I can picture you now, salivating over lobster roll for lunch and eagerly awaiting the fresh lobster from the docks that evening. Biking our way from town to town along the cape, then settling in that evening along the ocean front with a full moon. It will always bring a smile to my face.
I am so blessed to have been witness to and recipient of your funny, light-hearted, and loving nature that were not always seen by others. I know you’ll be missed by many, and my heart goes out to your mother, your nephew, Danny, and your niece, Sheri, who were so much a part of our life together. I know you loved them dearly and they loved their Uncle Rick as much.
Whether it was Rick, Ricky, your video moniker, Andy Bailey, or your alter-egos of Marlena and Cher, you never ceased to entertain or bring a bit of spiciness to the situation. I am so thankful that the universe brought us back together by happenstance just a couple of months ago and I was able to share some time with you.
I found a few photos of our life together, but way too few, to express the richness of our partnership. However, I was moved by this photo of you from when we took Team Philadelphia on a tubing expedition down the Delaware River. I hope you are as peaceful now as you were in this picture, floating on a carefree journey through space and time. - love you always.
RIP RLVT
We maintained our friendship with many long calls after his BikeStop last-call shifts before he passed out.
Ricky was a stickler for policy, especially FGG By-Laws and the operational License Agreements with the host cities.
The glaring issue that originally united Ricky, me, and the 'Philadelphia Mafia' right after the 1990 Vancouver Gay Games was the 'RedBooks', the LGBT adaptations of mainstream rules governing the sport operations to keep their athletic integrity, and make them more Inclusive.
The project lasted many years, and saw its first roll out in Gay Games New York City 1994.
The 'RedBooks' are still the most important Gay Games documents, and you can see Ricky's fingerprints everywhere, especially in the Wrestling RedBook: Drug Testing, Age/Weight/Skill/Gender Categories, and a strong connection to the Mainstream Governing Bodies.
Ricky was not afraid to ruffle the feathers of ineffectual value signaling FGG leadership whenever it tried to undermine the
In 2017, when I was selling my Mom's NJ CONDO, I hired Ricky to do some carpentry, and we spent a great 4 days together... two OCD Wrestlers solving the issues of Life.
In 2018, we connected again at the funeral of our mentor Kevin Martin.
Even though we stayed in digital contact, it was the last time I saw him.
I always envied his intense Joie de Vivre, even right to the very end.
I loved him like a brother, and will miss him.
One of my fondest personal memories of Rick was when he learned that MaryAnn and I would be visiting Philadelphia for a weekend in 2008.
He and Mike showed us around their city.
The highlight was our visit to the Mutter Museum where he and I shared our fascination with medical oddities.
MaryAnn was less enthused by the museum, but treasures a photo they took of us that weekend.
Good bye, Rick.
Laura
Despite his sense of humor, Rick could be a stubborn East Coaster.
As a wrestler, this was part of his personality. But, he never looked down on anyone who disagreed with him.
Open minds are not always easy to find at a group like the FGG, but Rick certainly had one.
Rick was a BIG man in somewhat of a small body.
He was tough, but with a heart of gold.
Anyone who knew him can vouch for this.
His love of his fellow Team Philadelphia teammates reflected that heart of gold.
As the FGG Archivist, Rick was kind enough to contribute a number of his personal photos to our online galleries.
Two of my favorites are attached.
In the wrestling photo, Rick is in the front row just to the right of the man in the white t-shirt.
In the Team Philadelphia photo,
Rick is in the front center with hands at the bottom of the flagpole being held up.
Rick will be missed.