Rick Mittelstadt, 1942-2010
Larry Statham – Rick was used to new schools and meeting new friends because his father was a USAF pilot. He had lived in several countries in Europe before his dad was assigned to McConnell AFB to fly the B47. Rick could be a brash guy and that was the impression he gave when he tried out for the East swim team. As the only son with lots of sisters, his father expected much from Rick.
Rick was always in motion. His Wichita home was near Matthewson and conveniently close for commuting to school and swim practice. A freestyle sprinter and relay swimmer, Rick was also an artist on the diving board. He achieved All-American status. 
We were all proud of his accomplishments; they attracted a potential scholarship at KU. But academics didn’t hold his attention, so he left and joined the Marine Corps where he was aboard a ship in a unit directing naval gunfire support.
When he was discharged, Rick went to Tahoe, dabbled in community college, and ultimately decided to make his “bankroll” in gaming. He dealt Black Jack and Craps at casinos in Reno and Lake Tahoe until he moved to Las Vegas, where we met up again. We rented a house and roomed together until he left to teach the gaming arts for Atlantic City casinos. It was there that he married and became the proud father of four children, a bit later than most of us. We remained friends as we moved about the country. My wife and I visited him at his apartment in Plantation, FL during his last weeks of chemo before he passed away. He was ambitious, energetic, and always 
hopeful that he would strike it rich with his next scheme. Rest in peace, Rick.
Over the years, I became close to his parents. They visited me at the Tower in Tahoe on one of their trips after retirement.
This picture was taken at Rick’s memorial service at Lake Tahoe in June of 2011. You can see his time line on the chart. He had beaten a chest cancer earlier in his life. But it came back and he died at home in hospice July 22, 2010. All his children were at his side. His oldest, Rickey, called to tell me. Larry is getting married Dec 5, this year in Henderson, NV, which is just east of Las Vegas. Rick’s ashes were scattered over the lake from an light aircraft during the ceremony. The children’s names from left to right are Larry, Madelyn, Trish and Rickey (F. W. Mittelstadt, IV.)
Obituary
Frederick “Rick” William Mittelstadt III, 68, of Plantation, Fla., passed away July 22, 2010. He was a pit boss and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Services will be held in Lake Tahoe at a later date.
Editor’s Note : Please share your memories of Rick.
Senior year I never missed a swim meet. I loved watching Rick’s dives. He seemed to have perfect control over his whole body, except one big toe that pointed at 45 degree angle from the body line. I am sure it never took away from his score, but remember him being teased about that toe. Ricks dives were so beautiful that I remembered them years later when I signed all three of my sons in age group diving. My youngest son, Dan continued to dive for his high school and got to go dive with Greg Louganis in Florida. Dan was ranked in Texas diving, which was highly competitive. He was accepted to Cornell and Harvard as a member of their diving teams. Dan chose Cornell, but transferred to film school in California, after two years of really cold weather. He was clearly a sun belt kid.