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Gratitude for years
of traffic counsel
Goodbye, Gary Richards, we are going to be lost without you.
He was such a good guy. Our deepest sympathy to his family and our gratitude for his years of traffic counsel and just being our friend.
Joanne Kobori
San Jose
Shock and sadness
at columnist’s death
It was with shock and sadness that we read of Gary Richards’ (Mr. Roadshow) passing.
As long-time East Bay Times subscribers, we have gleaned so much useful information from his column. Although we were not personally acquainted with him, we, like many others I’m sure, feel like we’ve lost a friend.
Condolences are sent to his wife and family.
Rita Gordon
San Lorenzo
Mr. Roadshow felt
just like an old friend
Just when I thought the news couldn’t get any sadder, I read about the death of Gary Richards, “Mr. Roadshow.”
I read his column regularly — he felt like a good friend. I didn’t realize he was having health issues. My heart and condolences go out to his family.
The only silver lining is knowing the road to heaven is safer and smoother now thanks to Gary. Rest in peace good friend.
Nancy Krakauer
Pleasanton
Column established
hall-of-fame career
Long-suffering commuters everywhere lost one of their most effective champions with the passing of Gary Richards.
I first got to know Gary when I was a public information officer for Caltrans in the 1990s. His knowledge and pointed questions always kept us on our toes. I was so impressed with him that I invited him to attend a training class of all Caltrans PIOs to help them better understand how to get the media timely and accurate information to be accountable to taxpayers and transportation system users. Getting a call from Gary always made my heart skip a beat, but I knew I could count on his fairness and professionalism.
Years later I was pleased to continue to be a technical resource to him on asphalt-related issues. Recently our association inducted him into our Hall of Fame, the first media person so honored in our 70-year history.
Russell Snyder
Executive Director, California Asphalt Pavement Association
West Sacramento
Mr. Roadshow was
a part of the family
I was deeply saddened to read of the passing of “our” Mr. Roadshow. Gary was more than a columnist he was part of our family.
Both my wife and I eagerly looked forward to reading his column each morning and have since 1992. His columns were always informative and helpful, and at times funny and sad. We can’t imagine how many thousands of people he has helped through the years.
I sincerely hope that the San Jose Mercury News will honor Gary by continuing his column — it is needed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Richards family. Gary may have taken the highway to heaven, but he will not be forgotten and will be sorely missed.
Gregory Carlsted
San Jose
Paper must replace
the irreplaceable
My condolences to Gary’s family and co-workers. He was the primary reason I subscribed.
He cannot be replaced, but the Mercury News must replace him.
Jeffrey Eng
Cupertino
For 30 years, column
provided warmth, fun
We’ve been so lucky to have had Mr. Roadshow on our side for 30 years. His columns gave us reliable information we could count on.
For fun, he threw in Mrs. Roadshow’s recipes, gasoline price contests (with prizes), Prius events, and bumper sticker contests to encourage the use of turn indicator “blinkers.” I enjoyed meeting him once at a Mercury News open house. Whenever I emailed him, he replied promptly and with warmth.
He will be greatly missed by his faithful sidekick Mrs. Roadshow, his children and grandchild, the Roadshow dogs, his many readers, and by me.
Bonnie Home
San Jose
Gary Richards’ presence
will long be missed
The passing of Gary Richards is a huge loss.
He will long be remembered for his columns that were filled with advice, humor, remedies and down-to-earth humanity. His presence will be missed.
My condolences to his wife, Jan, and family.
Patricia DeMore
Santa Clara
Thanks to Richards for
helping navigate roadways
I was saddened to hear the news of Mr. Roadshow’s passing. I looked forward to reading his column. He provided real solutions to real problems. His lexicon of Dive Bomber, Road Boulder and Dart Vadar will never be forgotten. May his road to heaven be smooth and pothole-free.
Thanks for helping all of us navigate the roadways.
Anne Garrison
San Jose
Mr. Roadshow created
a community of readers
I began reading Mr. Roadshow in the early 90s, and he soon became a favorite columnist. He informed in a way that I became a better driver, as I was as interested in the rules of the road as in changing road conditions. During COVID his columns were especially helpful, letting readers know how and where to go to renew their licenses.
Gary created a community of folks who shared their questions and insights with him — their mistakes and their wins. I will miss his column and hope that there may be someone out there who can develop the depth of knowledge Gary had, and who will keep us safe.
RIP Gary. My condolences to his wife, Jan, and to members of his family. He will be missed.
Jean Dana
Saratoga
Over 20 years, a friend
was found in column
Goodbye, Mr. Roadshow, Gary Richards. Many will miss you, me most definitely.
Over the last 20 years, I submitted questions and got published answers to more than my fair share of transportation-related questions in his column. Seeing my name in print with a response from Gary was a treat for the day. I didn’t always get the answer I wanted but it was clear that the guy knew his stuff.
Over the years, Gary and I developed a rapport and exchanged many informal emails. I even got to be one of his “sources” on a couple of occasions. I was delighted when, about five years ago, I finally got to meet this decent, sincere man at a talk he gave at Bellarmine College Preparatory high school, where our sons were students.
My last question to him was published a couple of weeks ago; I will keep that column. Goodbye, good sir.
Tim Riener
Fremont
Richards leaves
an enviable legacy
I very much hope that Gary Richards was not one-of-a-kind.
His handling of the “Roadshow” column was exemplary journalism. Fair, even, informative, knowledgeable — for so many years.
It’s such a great loss and sadness for us all. RIP for an enviable life, Gary.
Robert Karr
Cupertino
Gary Richards combined
humanity and humor
I was absolutely shocked and saddened by Mr. Richards’ death. I didn’t know he was battling a degenerative muscle and nerve disease.
He addressed and or answered many issues and questions since I moved to San Jose decades ago. He was a wonderful human with a great sense of humor, too.
M. R. Pamidi
San Jose
Roadshow readership
became a family
It is with great sorrow that I read of Gary Richards’ death. My husband was a Vietnam vet who recently died of cancer after being exposed to Agent Orange, and he read Gary’s column every day for the last 30 years as have I.
Please notify his family that he had family in his readership and that we will miss him every day.
Nancy Anderson
Royal Oaks
Mr. Roadshow made
difference with readers
I was greeted with great sadness upon learning of the passing of Gary Richards. Over the past two decades, I had become a frequent writer to Gary for questions and suggestions and to check in with him on how he was doing. I knew the day would come that Gary would no longer be making his contribution as Mr. Roadshow, I just wish that day was not now. Gary made a difference in the Bay Area roads and communication with his readers and the public agencies that are responsible for our roadways and traffic planning.
Jan, Gary’s wife, was his angel. The two had a relationship that was very special.
Jan, none of us will miss Gary more than you. Please know how many of us there are that Gary made a difference with.
Conrad Schapira
Milpitas
Richards’ Roadshow
was a morning highlight
I don’t remember when I started reading Mr. Roadshow, nor when it became a highlight of my mornings, something I looked forward to on the days it would show up.
I knew from his column that he was a kind man. Then a couple of years back I sent an email to Mr. Richards asking if he had any advice for a driving-related illness issue. He sent first one email with some resources and then another a few days later with some further suggestions.
My condolences to his wife and family. A good man will be missed.
Michael Babcock
Oakland
Gary Richards’ impact
seen in each turn signal
RIP, Gary Richards. For over 15 years I have been an avid reader and sometimes contributor to “Roadshow.” I would quickly browse Page A1 headlines, and turn the page to see what was cooking on “Roadshow.” While driving you could tell when a fellow driver was a “Roadshow” reader — they used their turn signals.
Hopefully, the Mercury News will assign someone to continue the “Roadshow” column, but Gary will be a difficult act to follow.
Tom Darby
San Jose
Column was
packed with information
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Gary Richards’, Mr. Roadshow, passing on Dec 17.
I had been reading his column daily. He provided so much important information about traffic, driving, safety issues, etc.
Do you think Mrs. Roadshow or others can continue writing this column in the future?
Cynthia Wei
Sunnyvale
Editor’s note: The outpouring of condolences for Gary Richards has been heartwarming. We are truly grateful that he meant as much to you as he did to us. Many of you have asked if there was a charity you could donate to in his honor. In response, his family requests donations to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation or to The Mercury News Wish Book, for which Richards wrote many stories about local charities.
