Richard Certo ’71, September 5, 1949 -y 19, 2013. A resident of Scotts Valley, Certo passed away ten months after he became very ill with a rare type of lymphoma. Richard was born in Oakland, the oldest of five children, and was raised in Santa Clara. He graduated from Buchser High School in 1967, Santa Clara University in 1971, and launched his accounting career at Price Waterhouse. He then worked for Syntex and Argo Systems and moved to Scotts Valley in 1980 to serve as Seagate’s first CFO. He spent the next 25 years working in business and venture capital, including time at Bell Micro and Al Shugart International. Richard worked hard and played hard. His passions were golf, good food, family, and friends. More than anything, he loved to laugh and make others laugh. He had an unforgettable smile and a loud, pure, infectious laugh that easily filled a room, a restaurant, or a movie theater. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a playful way of looking at things. He loved to have a good time and knew how important it was to enjoy life. Richard had a quick wit, a sharp mind, and a creative spirit. He loved a challenge, a complex problem, or an opportunity to improve upon something. He always had a project up his sleeve and several ideas brewing in his mind. His creations included "Improve Your Swing" golf app, several patented golf accessories, screenplays, children’s books, a taco bar, and a few very eccentric Halloween costumes. He always found ways to keep life interesting and his mind engaged. He took pride in maintaining a beautiful home and yard, where he and his wife hosted many gatherings. Richard loved sports and physical activity. In addition to golfing, swimming, and cycling, he spent many years playing pick-up basketball and coaching youth soccer. In 2003 he participated in the week-long Cycle Oregon event and in 2010 he took the golf "trip of a lifetime" to Scotland. He loved to walk on the beach in Maui, play golf in Mexico, and hike through the forest at Henry Cowell State Park. His loyal corgis, Shorty and Lola, were at his side on countless walks through Hidden Glen. Richard is survived by his wife, Linda Teague, daughter Aly Certo and son-in-law Justin Weaver, son Kyle Certo, and step-hildren Abbey Teague and Kyle Teague. He is also survived by his siblings: Carol Poulsen, Donna Gamaly, Christine Certo, and Tom Certo. He was preceded in death by his daughter Lauren Certo. Richard’s 4-year-old grandson Austin Weaver was the light of his life in recent years. Of Richard’s many personal and professional accomplishments, perhaps the most valuable to him was that he was the first to make Austin laugh. Richard had hoped to travel to Southern Italy to explore his family’s roots in Sicily. He loved all things Italian – the people, the food, and most of all, the Italian approach to life. Slow down. Enjoy yourself. Live in the moment. Don’t take anything too seriously. As his disease progressed, Richard faced the end of his life with calm acceptance. More than once he shrugged his shoulders and said with characteristic ease and humor: "I picked the short straw." He made it home, which was his final wish, and died peacefully. He was surrounded by family and some of his closest friends in his final days. Richard’s personality was larger than life, and the void that he leaves is immeasurable. If you wish to do something in Richard’s honor, please consider donating blood, joining the national bone marrow registry, or volunteering with an organization that provides support to cancer patients.