Richard Vernon Gainey-Generou

Rick left his life on earth in the presence of his loved ones on December 16, 2022, at the age of 52.  His life began on March 11, 1970.  He was born in Newberry Michigan.  His mother, Karen Gainey, did not raise him after he was nine months old.  He was raised by his great uncle “Pug” Vernon Generou, a single man who officially adopted Rick when he was 6 years old.  Rick often joked that he then became his own uncle.
Rick was very interested in books and reading at an early age.  He read Moby Dick and other classics when he was only six years old.   His love for reading remained with him throughout life.  He was also very industrious as a kid growing up in the UP, shoveling roof tops and driveways, cutting firewood and delivering the Grit newspaper.  Rick attended Newberry High School where he played football and graduated in 1988.  After his dad’s passing, Rick moved down state and worked doing asbestos abatement. From then, he worked for Horizon Cable, installing cable and doing cable mapping, which gave him opportunities to travel.  After that he worked for Haney Concrete pouring concrete.  For a time, he worked for Tyco Electronics. Then Rick moved on to working as a cook at Joes Gizzard City, where he had the opportunity to meet Guy Fieri from the Food Network when they were there to make their T.V. Show.  Rick loved to cook and was creative with a deep fryer making things like scotch eggs and deep-fried Twinkie’s. Rick also worked at the Eaton Pub as a bartender.  He had a great sense of humor and Rick loved to make people laugh.  He was very funny and even tried stand-up comedy.  He always loved music and learned to play the guitar with his best friend, John Steward many years ago.  He was in the band “Quitin Time” with his friends including John Steward.  Rick also worked at Meridian in Eaton Rapids and Kish Industries in Charlotte.  He later did small engine repairs privately.  He enjoyed rebuilding motor bikes and biking and remote-control cars. Rick especially loved children and had a way with them and wanted to impart knowledge and help them. Rick was an outdoorsy person and loved fishing and hunting for food as well as foraging. He also loved animals of all kinds and was able to make friends with them easily.  Rick is survived by his girlfriend, Brenda Moulton; his half-brother, Leonard Generou; several cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his dad, Vernon “Pug” Generou; his mother, Karen Gainey; his half-brother, Sam Maddox; and recently by his longtime friend, John Steward.  Rick was extremely generous and helped many people in their time of need and he shared what he had with others. He will be missed.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Richard Generou at the Eaton Pub and Grille on January 14, 2023, at 2 p.m. Memorial services will be held at McMillan Michigan Township Hall at noon on June 3, 2023. Contributions can be made in memory of Rick to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.