Dick Latvala RIP

August 6th, 1999 - 9:00 PM (12:00 AM EST)

Dick Latvala passed away today. May he rest in peace.
We will miss you, old friend. Thanks for everything.

08-08-99 16:44 PDT PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) --

Dick Latvala, the Grateful Dead's archivist, has died at his home of a heart attack. He was 56.

The Berkeley native was an avid collector of the band's tapes during the 1960s and 1970s. By the early 1980s, he was known as an amateur expert and was eventually hired by the band as its archivist. Since Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, the surviving band members have released 14 compact discs containing music from the archives called "`Dick's Picks.''

Latvala, who died Friday, is survived by his mother, Sylvia Latvala of Klamath Falls, Ore; wife, Carol; son Richard of San Francisco; and two sisters, Kathy Rogers of Klamath Falls, Ore. and Pat Church of Montara, Calif.

Services will be private.

Dick Latvala
7-26-43 to 8-6-99
RIP

8-7-99

I never met Dick face to face, but we spent many hours over the last three years in communication over the phone. It's funny when you know someone in that kind of manner. Seems like in the dozens of conversations we had, we became friends. He was yet another mentor in life and was someone I turned to for advice in both areas related to Grateful Dead tapes and just life itself. In each of the 5 interviews I did with Dick for my radio show, he was always very open and true in his responses to sometimes tough questions. I will always remember him as a friend and I will miss his one-of-a-kind personality. The music that he shared with us will help keep his spirit alive in this world. I will always remember a comment that David Gans once said to me; "Dick has plenty of friends". David was right - Dick was blessed with friendship from many people.

I will miss him.

Jim Blackwood