Before his brain injury, Richie was best known on stage as Rockin’ Richie—a drummer who picked up the sticks at 18 years old after Woodstock 69’. “I was inspired,” he says. “Ken Kesey said, ‘drop out of society’ instead I dropped out of college and moved to the West Coast.”
What began as jam sessions on an Oregon farm in the middle of nowhere grew into a career that took Richie around the world, from Canada to Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and beyond. “It gave me the chance to see places I never thought I’d see,” he says, recalling memories from his Asian USO tour.
In 1991, a car accident left Richie in a coma for two and a half months. His recovery was slow. His balance was forever changed, but his independence wasn’t. After relocating to Atlanta to be closer to family, he began volunteering with People First.
“I was bored, so I started volunteering, helping people in wheelchairs—I was their arms and legs,” he recalls. That’s where Richie met Side by Side founder Cindi Johnson, who invited him to join the Clubhouse. Richie has been part of the community ever since.
For over 20 years, Richie has seen members come and go, but the heart of the Clubhouse remains: “You can’t tell the difference between staff and members—that’s how Cindi designed it. Everyone has a place that matters,” Richie says. He’s helped shape that welcoming spirit, making birthday cards for nearly a decade to ensure no member is forgotten, and reaching out to friends long after they’ve moved on.
Though he can’t travel like he once did, Side by Side keeps Richie connected, productive, and engaged. “I’ve never been the type to sit down for too long,” he says. “Being here keeps me thinking, keeps me productive, and it’s better than sitting at home watching TV. After a brain injury, you’ve got to exercise your brain muscle.”
This December, Richie will celebrate his 75th birthday at Game Night with his trademark Death by Chocolate ice cream—plus French Vanilla this year! For him, Side by Side is more than a place to work. “We’re here for each other,” Richie says. “That’s what matters.”
— Richie