FedupFlex

I just read the FedEx MEC "Positive Rate" newsleteer; I am saddened by the news of the passing of Capt. Rick Ward.

Great guy, served as one of our early union rep's during our most trying times.

Farewell, my friend!

busdriver12

So incredibly sad. What a great guy. I am so tired of our guys dying so young.

The last thing I heard, he had some sort of infection, that just wasn't clearing up. Now, a dual lung transplant? Just wonder how something progresses to that, almost sounds like medical malpractice. Anyone know what happened to him?

Jetjok

I don't know what happened to Rick, and I'm saddened at his passing. However, I do know, for a fact, that getting sick and staying in hospital is certainly not good for your health. Back in 2007, when I died, I was taken to the best hospital in our area, where they did open heart surgery and replaced a number of clogged arteries. The procedure was called bypass surgery. Anyway, a few days later I developed a staph infection, which kept me in the hospital almost a week extra, and almost killed me. Keep out of those damn hospitals if you can, because they're filled with sick people.

Left Coast MD11

Rick was a great guy! I worked the ramp in Tucson and he always made time to talk to me about flying and even offered to help me get started.
I hadn't talked to him in a couple years and didn't even know he was sick.
My sincere condolences to his family, he will be missed dearly!

frozenboxhauler

Rick, thank you for all that you did for us,...you'll be sorely missed! Why is that the good guys die way too young and pr%@*$ always seem to live forever?
Fair skies and following seas,
fbh

livindadream

Rick was a class act, especially for a Marine.

He got me hired at FedEx and my family and I owe him for the life this career has given us. There is no way to adequately thank him or repay him.

He was a new hire with my Dad at Continental Air Lines and didn't return after the strike mess. He eventually ended up here at FedEx. He served as the first Fedex ALPA Executive Vice President upon our return to ALPA. Ironically, he served beside my Dad who was the first Continental ALPA Executive Vice President upon their return to ALPA.

During that time, I was on the MEC of a regional airline and got reacquainted with Rick through our ALPA work. He felt that it was important to bring fellow ALPA Volunteers from other carriers to FedEx to help build a solid foundation of people willing to sacrifice their time and energy to help our fellow pilots. I am not the only ALPA Rep from a regional that Rick sponsored and gave this wonderful opportunity. He truly believed in giving back and paying it forward.

I was fortunate to fly with him on his last trip as a Captain on the B727. We had a weekend layover in Richmond. Rick rented a car and we hit as many Civil War battle sights as we could in 2-1/2 days. It was a great time and I enjoyed every minute of that trip.

Captain Ward worked hard for us and we all owe him a heartfelt Thank You. God Bless you my friend and thank you for all you did for me and my family. We are eternally grateful.

champ42272

To fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check." (Author unknown)

Thanks Rick, peace to you and your family.

V/R

moondoggie11

Flew with Rick so long ago I can't even remember if it was the DC-10 or 72...but I do remember Rick. A very knowledgeable and amicable guy who would give you the shirt off his back.

He's in a better place now. Condolences to his family.

Semper Fi.

JethroFDX

Rick was my sponsor as well and was always a class act. He had been dealing with health issues for over a year and seemed like his recovery was going well.

God bless you Rick, thank you for your friendship and for being the professional pilot we all aspire to be.

a4jock

Rick and I had lunch about 3 yrs ago and he told me that he had contracted a virulent strain of pneumonia that the docs could not ID. Damn near killed him then. Over the ensuing years, his lung capacity slowly declined. We would fly together to various lunch spots in Northern AZ for the heck of it, and because Rick enjoyed the challenge of the mighty C182RG. I could tell he was slowing down evey time we got in the plane. He called me and said that his lungs were down to 40% capacity and it was time to seek a transplant. We now know how that went. He hung on for ~ 3 months, and went out on his own terms.
I will miss our flying adventures together.
Semper Fi Leatherneck!
Stitch