Richard Stuart Kidd

Richard Stuart Kidd died in his 63rd year. Richard was born on Friday, March 16th, 1962 in Highland Park, Michigan and died on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio. Richard is survived by his mother Mary Kidd (Sylvania), step-mother Constance Kidd (Indio, California), brothers Douglas Kidd (Toledo) and David (Donna) Kidd (Millbury), nephews Steven Kidd (Indiana), Miles Kidd (Millbury), and William Kidd (Indiana). 

At the age of ten, Richard lost his older brother William (Billy) Kidd to a boating accident on the Ottawa River in Sylvania, Ohio. At age twelve, Richard arose from a broken home. From an early age Richard acquired a nickname, “the ramrod,” or as his loving brother Steven (died September 7, 2021), affectionately called him, “rammy.” The nickname arose from a war era movie where one of the characters became the cornerstone of the group and was named the ramrod. And, as it was in the film, and in life, Richard became known to his brothers as the ramrod. 

Richard was a solid academic student at Sylvania Southview High School and competed on the varsity hockey as a defenseman. After completing high school in 1980, with encouragement from his father, William Kidd (died July 5, 2017, formerly of Indio, California), Richard attended Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine for a year. Richard then decided to pursue a military career, so enlisted in the United States Army from 1982 to 1986, with various posts of duty from Germany to South Korea as member of an armored division where he drove a tank, before being honorably discharged from service in Colorado. Offered a job as a retail salesperson in Indianapolis, Indiana, Richard moved there to live with his brother Steven. 

After midnight on Friday, January 1st, 1988, Richard nearly stepped from a road in Indianapolis, Indiana, when a car without headlights ran through him. The accident caused multiple compound fractures to both legs and a severe closed-head traumatic brain injury. Richard acquired additional brain damage when he stopped breathing before first responders reached him. 

Overheard by his mother Mary, it took nearly a year before Richard emerged from coma to speak his first word, “help.” His mother asked, “Is that you in there Richard?” When he answered, “yes,” our hearts leapt. Richard then underwent active rehabilitation efforts. Richard regained the ability to speak more words, to feed himself, but sadly plateaued when it came to operation of a motorized wheelchair. This marked the end of his active rehabilitation phase as monies are unavailable to those that do not progress. Richard then entered into decades-long custodial care at various nursing homes. 

Richard endured social isolation, faced abuse and neglect, at times life-threatening, at various long-term care facilities over the decades, yet Richard survived for 36 years, 9 months, 26 days. Richard when properly stimulated would laugh loudly. His family treasures these precious memories. To Richard his family would say you were robbed of nearly all life has to offer, yet you persevered, showed amazing strength of resilience/endurance, and we miss you. Goodbye, dear Richard.  Online condolences to reebfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Stuart Kidd, please visit our floral store.