Zoner down ❤️ WALSTIB (Rich Weber)

RIP dear Rich

So sad 

Rest in Peace 

Whoa.  Rich was one of the kindest hearted Zoners I've ever met.  He had just reached out to me a couple of weeks ago to see if I was interested in his record collection.  I just figured he was downsizing, not that it was something more serious.  This makes me so sad, doubly so to hear of Mara's state.  Both beautiful people.

R.I.P. Rich.

Agree, Herbal. 

A huge loss. 

I always looked forward to running into them at Bay area shows.

Saw both of them fairly recently, fortunately, but we didn't get to visit for long. 

I'm saddened to read this. RIP Rich.

Rich and Mara joined me at an open house / tour at the Internet Archive in like 2021!

Here's a new Google album of a few photos I've taken over the years... this link should allow you to view, download and add your own if you like. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DptsBD7h851GcbZy5

Oh man.

RIP WALSTIB.

Fuck 2025!!!!!

Wally was one of the very best. And sweet Mara deserves better too. 

Damn.    I cried when I first heard. The day after.  But the sad will last for a long time. 

Was having a nice day, should have stayed offline. Came home to this. Just had a good cry. Both were beyond kind to me. Mara is so sweet. Sending her love and will reach out.

Rich was hilarious. Calm and cool on the outside but would let his New Yorker come out when provoked or after a good night of fun. I have so many fond funny moments of them both. 

Rich would routinely give out CD's. I'm sure there are plenty of Zoners out there with them. He had a deep love for vinyl and had some incredible shit. He was always a welcome person to be next to at shows and had a deep love for all PHIL and Nelson. Amongst my favorite people I have met here. This is a rough year, Gdad, another good friend, and now WALSTIB...

We will ring in the New Year in his honor.

see you down the road brother. I love you.

t

I hate these threads. 

Condolences to all he touched. 

So sad.

Such nice people Rich and Mara.

Could always count on seeing them at local shows.
They will be missed dearly.

I enjoyed the pictures of them and the bay area phriends.

Great memories of fun times.

Thank you for Sharing Hippo.

:(

Such a funny, generous guy... he sure lit up a room.  Every event was better and full of laughter when Richie was in the house. 

Was hoping to see him on NYE, this is very sad.  We will miss you dear friend.

I feel like with each one that goes, it hurts that much more.  Always was incredibly kind to me and I'm saddened by the news.   This is tough.   

Good Grief ...  This News is a Huge Loss to our Community. Rich was a Kind Jentel Human. ((( MARA ))) so many Memories of dancing with them both. Fare Thee Well. Sleep in the STARS Brother. Condolences to his (((  FAMILY ))). Forever in Our Hearts ....

2025 really was mostly crap.

Rich was a goddamn delight; kind, humorous, passionate about music but never pretentious, and just a solid, fun loving person that was always joy to b around.

truly one of the best of us, he will b missed.

RIP :(

Awe Walstib.. save us a place up there RIP love and strength to friends and family 

Awe Walstib.. save us a place up there RIP love and strength to friends and family 

Life is so short. And it can be so sad. Especially when we lose folks like Rich and others like him. I'll raise a glass to our fellow traveler.

Wow, this is terrible news. RIP Rich. My condolences to Mara. It's incredibly hard for me to picture her in memory care, I hope that in moments of clarity there is comfort for her in the love they shared. 

RIP

A lot of very accurate statements in this terrible thread.

I for one have no words about this news.

And that should tell you something about Rich.

So sorry to hear this news and feel all the pain in a lot of good hearts. Someone who shared a lot of love and will be dearly missed. We all can be inspired by him. 

((((((((((( Walstib's Family & Friends )))))))))

(((((((((( Mara )))))))))

Typing through tears. This is a terrible thread in the nicest way. Clearly all in the community who knew Rich and Mara are hurting with this news.

Some sweet people. Always a pleasure to be near them at shows, Mara made and gave away really good cookies. Rich was always one of the funniest guys on the scene. He would laugh, and tell jokes, and when he did the thick New York accent would come through. And yes, I still listen to CDs and have some that Rich gave me.

I saw them last at Jerry Day. They were a few rows away and I didn't find the time for greetings. There are familiar faces that are part of our tribal scene for decades, and when they are gone it leaves a hole not to be filled.

Rest in peace as part of the music Rich. (((Mara love)))

I am sure that I am not the only one approaching the new year with trepidation, but I will vehemently say Goodbye 2025 and good riddance! By most measures, what a fucked up year.

And to you my brothers and sisters here on the black screen, Phil brought us together and we are community. Love and best wishes for all with no exceptions.

And we must keep on keeping on, and the music will go on. Furthur!

RIP Rich.  I will miss seeing him at shows, it was always a pleasure hanging and chatting about music.  Thank you for the cds.  This was from Red Rocks, July 2021.

RIP Rich. A fixture at Bay Area shows and all around good dude. (((Mara))))

Harsh ~~~ RIP Walstib......................................

Such a terrible loss, and doubly tragic with Mara's diagnosis and mental decline. Her memory care facility is near our home and I was able to visit her today. I'll go back tomorrow, she won't remember our visit today. Her long term memory is still decent though and we had a nice visit and I even got her outside for a walk in the sunshine. I'm bringing some homemade  Tom Kha Gai. She misses Rich, but doesn't know about his passing. She told me he wasn't feeling well. 

Treasure every moment with the ones you love.

And Fuck Alzheimer's. 

PS

Mara asked for a flute. I'm hoping to find her one to play. 

oh Nancy, please give Mara a hug from me -- know she may not remember me, but just the same, it's good energy flying her way.  

Thanks for all you do.

right on Nancy!

This was very sad news. Rich and Mara were great fun to hang with inside and outside of shows.
This may be one of the worst years, Zoner down-wise, that I can recall.
Please take care everyone and I hope 2026 will be much, much better for all.
Nancy, you're a true mensch. 

Yes. This loss is terrible. Rich & Mara came to my house often. They would join us for Thanksgiving every year.

This past Thanksgiving, 2025, they were invited and  planed to join us. 

On about Nov. 10th they stopped by & we discussed dinner. They were to bring dessert. They were looking @ a day care memory facility in the Presidio, Mara was lovely. Rich was stressed.

About a week later Rich called & said they were not coming. Mara was in a facility in Redwood City & the doctors said he could not visit for a few weeks. Rich was heart-broken. Crying all the time. I spoke to him every day or so trying to get him out but he could not.

Not only was he worried about Mara but he was facing eviction by his landlord. He had  massive record/rock & roll memorabilia/book collections & had to worry about them.

He could not sleep.

When I would call he often did not answer but always  called me back. Then I could not reach him  even tho I was calling both his & Mara's phones as he had  them both.

The day of his death I was called & told that the cops/coroner were at his house.

Rich is at Peace. My thoughts/worries are with Mara.

She is in a luxury facility.

My wife Janet & Roshambo went with me & we visited her on Dec. 21st. Mara knew us & was lovely. We took her some Xmas presents & a Xmas card.

I plan to visit again after the New Year.

I expect the DNB show will be tribute to them both. I am sorry but I can not join you.

Everyone have fun & please  know that I love you.

Sad, Run Like The Wind. RIP....

Thanks for the info crabneesh. It's tragic but somehow settling to know some level of details. You were/are obviously a good friend to them, which comes as no surprise. I'm sure you'll continue to do what you can to look out for Mara, I hope her situation financially is stable going forward. She has always been such a glow of positive energy, and she made the best damned rice krispy treats I've ever had.

This news continues to make me so sad. Everyone has described Rich well, he really was a great guy to hang with and talk to. He was a classic zoner in that he had definite opinions on just about everything and would debate his side strongly but always with humor and never argumentative if we disagreed. He loved hockey and was a Sharks fan and could always help this westie better understand what was going on with a sport that is foreign to me.

A lasting memory will be the multiple times I'd be hat-down and into the music at a show and suddenly feel someone getting into the back pocket of my jeans or sweater and be WTF?!? I'd turn around and see that it was Rich stuffing CDs into my pocket. And of course then looking for Mara and her constant treat bag.

What a pair. I'm sad he's gone and wish I had known him better, but I'm lucky to have crossed paths with both of them.

Going forward, anyone in the know please pass on any pertinent information about Mara, if she needs something or if there's a funding account up, and if there will be any type of public service or gathering for Rich.

A life well lived is a good thing.

On it goes.

Scott was very close with both Rich and Mara. We spoke today. I suggest contacting him or just give it a few weeks. there are many moving parts - but he's in touch with the folks dealing with the estate stuff. Good news is that Mara is in a good place and the lawyers/executors are working on getting everything in order, it will take time. Sounds like financial stuff for Mara's care is covered and I'm guessing  there will be many tributes  for Rich and a memorial service at some point. 

Thanks Nancy, that's good to hear.

Scott's a real good guy too. It's not surprising that good ol' WALSTIB is surrounded by quality people looking out to make sure things work out.

We really do reap what we sow.

I'm going to miss hanging out with Rich, he was always a kind and generous friend. 
his passing is a huge loss to our community. 
Rich was struggling with how life was unraveling so quickly for them both. 
Please keep Rich's memory in your heart, and make everyday count. 

WE All LOVE YOU WALSTIB !  Thanks For Everything.

RIP...

Really comforting to see the westie contingent of Zoners come together to help where possible. Thanks to all of you for showing your love to a deserving couple. 

been waiting for this sad thread to pop up ever since we heard the news.  A first hand witness said Rich was found in his bed and looked at peace, so there's that.

We bumped into him (Richie) and talked for a bit at the Neil Young show at the Shoreline in Sept and he talked about how fucking stressful and sad things were with Mara's decline. But he was also his hilarious, fun loving self, and that's the way I'll always remember him.  

I still can't believe that's the last time I'll ever see him.  fuck. 

RIP

Thanks for sharing, Googly.

RIP Walstib

That Neil show was the last time I saw him as well. I didn't get a chance to talk with him, just a smile and a wave as we passed in the isle just as the lights went down.

You always think there will be another time to catch up.

Sigh.

If anyone wants to visit Mara in Redwood City there's a caring-bridge site with visitor sign up calendar. Send me a message for contact info to be added.

She remembers her  friends 

Very sorry to hear of Rich's passing  

RIP WALSTIB