Rick's Eulogy

  We gather here to honor a man who touched all our lives.  Dr. Richard
Webber is remembered fondly by all who knew him over the years.

     Rick Webber was the middle of three children born to Lars & Helene
Webber.  From a very young age it was apparent that Rick was destined to
follow in his father’s footsteps.  As a boy, Rick would visit his Dad’s office
at General Hospital, sit behind a desk that at the time seemed to overpower
his physique but not his spirit, and dream of the day when he would become
Head of Cardiology just like his Father.

     Rick never lost sight of his goal.  He earned admission to Columbia
University and Port Charles Medical School.  In 1972, he graduated at the top of his class and received a highly coveted intern position and later residency at
General Hospital in his hometown of Port Charles, N.Y.  From his earliest
days at General Hospital, Rick Webber began touching the lives of not only
his patients but his colleagues as well.  Dr. Steve Hardy often whispered to
those around him “Keep your eye on Dr. Webber, he might just out perform
even his father’s expectations.”  During his residency, Dr. Webber even
managed to influence a young brash medical student by the name of Monica
Bard to specialize in cardiology.

     After finishing his residency in 1975, Dr. Rick Webber wanted to give
back more to the world that had given him so much and choose to share his
medical talents with the people of Africa.  Upon his return to General
Hospital, August 16, 1976, Rick realized one of his Father’s dreams as he
began working side-by-side with his brother Dr. Jeff Webber; himself a
promising young intern.

     By the fall of 1976, Dr. Rick Webber was often seen in the company of
Dr. Lesley Faulkner.  In early 1977, Rick’s sister Terri Arnett noticed the
closeness between Rick and Lesley and planted the notion of a romance
between her brother and her best friend.  Much to Lesley’s amazement, Rick
proposed to her after a whirlwind courtship.  Fortunately for Rick, Lesley
agreed to become his wife.  So on November 2, 1977, Dr. Richard Webber
married his colleague, friend and love, Dr. Lesley Williams Faulkner.  In
the summer of 1978, Rick adopted Lesley’s daughter, Laura, making the
twosome a formal threesome.

     During the summer of 1977, Dr. Rick Webber fulfilled his childhood
dream and moved into his Father’s former office as Head of Cardiac Surgery
and oversaw the construction of the new cardiac wing.  In October 1978, Dr.
Webber was officially appointed Head of Cardiology and the new cardiac wing
at General Hospital.

     Unfortunately 1978 was not as good to the Webbers personally as it was
professionally and Rick found himself in the position of giving both Lesley
and Laura comfort, love and understanding after they were involved in a
messy murder trial resulting from the death of Rick’s former friend, David
Hamilton. Their marriage strained to the breaking point from events set in
motion by David’s tragic death, Rick and Lesley Webber divorced in June of
1980.  Rick then turned to his old friend Monica Quartermaine as a source of
comfort during this troubling time, but soon realized that she could not
provide the solution to his problems.

     With a deep sense of commitment to his community, Dr. Rick Webber
opened a medical clinic on the Port Charles waterfront in the fall of 1980. 
There, with Lesley’s help, Rick provided quality medical care to all who
requested it.  Working so closely with each other to treat Port Charles less
fortunate, Rick and Lesley strengthened their continuing bond and rekindled
their romance.  Realizing once more the depth of their love for one another,
Rick and Lesley Webber rewed December 23, 1981.

     In 1982 the Webbers expanded their family by providing a loving home
for Amy Vining, Blackie Parish and Mikey Webber.  With an understanding of
the benefit a structured environment can have on a child, Rick and Lesley
sought to further enrich the lives of the waterfront youth by opening a
Sports Center for after school recreation.

     In the summer of 1983, Rick Webber found himself in need of the
professional services of his colleague, Dr. Monica Quartermaine.  Monica
successfully operated on Rick to remove a cardiac tumor and aortic aneurysm.
  Rick, Lesley and their children were deeply grateful to Dr. Quartermaine
for the skill and professionalism she used to save the life of their father
and husband.

     After losing his beloved Lesley in March of 1984, Rick Webber found
strength in his children and set about building a life with his second wife
Ginny Blake.  In the winter of 1986, Rick and Ginny were delighted with the birth of their son, Rick Webber Jr.  After a decade of service to General Hospital, Rick, Ginny & Rick Jr. left Port Charles in November of 1986 for New York City, where Rick became a top heart transplant surgeon.

     Rick Webber is survived by his wife Lesley, his ex-wife Ginny, his
sister Terri, his brother Jeff, his children: Laura, Mike & Rick Jr., his
foster-daughter Amy, and his grandchildren: Nicholas, Lucky & Lesley Lu. 
All who knew Dr. Richard Webber admired his dedication to preserving life,
his determination to serve the under privileged and his love and devotion to
his family.  Dr. Richard Webber is deeply missed at General Hospital.

For a timeline of Rick's life, click here.

For fan memories, click here.