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A fitting farewell party for great guy

The memory of bar owner Ricky Taylor, who died Saturday, is celebrated by many friends.TREASURE ISLAND

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published March 8, 2007

Ricky T's Bar and Grille had hosted good parties, even great ones, but Thursday evening called for a celebration few on the beach had ever seen.

City officials shut down part of 106th Avenue, rock musicians played from two different stages, and more than a dozen bartenders hustled to twist open enough beers to satisfy the crowd of nearly 400.

Then, an airplane flew over the crowded Treasure Island restaurant, reminding them why they had come.

"We'll miss you, Ricky," a banner attached to the plane read.

The oversized tribute was a fitting farewell to Rick Taylor, 49, the owner and namesake of Ricky T's, whose perpetual good mood easily won him hundreds of friends.

"It was exactly what he would have wanted," said Stacy Barko, a frequent bar patron and close friend. "He was about bringing people together and this is the most people I have ever seen."

Taylor, who established Ricky T's in 1994 and later opened three other bars and restaurants in St. Pete Beach, died Saturday night when a fit of laughter triggered a heart attack.

Cheri Taylor, Rick's wife of five years, is expected to continue running his businesses.

Taylor lived by the personal mantra, "today might be the best day of my life." Family and friends celebrated Thursday by sharing tales of his goofy and good-natured antics.

Once, after Treasure Island's annual Memorial Day beach party had ended, he convinced a group of stragglers to share the last few beers with him and join him as he howled at the moon.

"He always wanted to make everyone laugh and if you weren't laughing he would pick on you until you gave in," said Delecia Rochick, his wife's sister.

But loved ones also recalled Taylor's more serious side, including his efforts to support local charities.

For Christmas, he held a holiday party with an open bar. The price of admission was a new toy for an underprivileged child, and if Taylor decided the toy wasn't good enough, he would send the guest away to shop for a more impressive gift. A certified notary, he also performed marriage ceremonies for friends.

For years Taylor struggled with a heart condition. On Saturday, it was his own silly comment that set off the final attack.

A group of friends had gathered at The Pearl restaurant in St. Pete Beach. When an appetizer of frog legs arrived at the table, Taylor saw two of the legs appeared to be joined together and joked that he felt he was looking at a frog's rear end. He died laughing.

During the celebration Thursday, Vicki Taylor-Owen, Taylor's mother, told guests her son would not want them to be sad.

"He would say let my memory be a happy one," she said. "Let it leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is gone."

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 8, 2007, 23:35:10]