Author: admin@richstryker.com

Consortium Turrium

Rich was an active member of the Society for Create Anachronism. In that medieval recreation organization, he achieved its highest honor for armored combat ability. Along with martial prowess (both armored and fencing), the SCA has pinnacle honors for research/craftsmanship, and service. To receive one of these honors elevates a person to the status of “peer of the realm”.

As a peer, Rich (otherwise known as Syr Aradd Ffestiniog) had his own SCA household – those people he invited to share in his hospitality, guidance and friendship. One’s SCA household is frequently thought of as a chosen family.

In 2003, Rich and three other peers – Master Kevin of Thornbury, Sir Colin Gordon and Sir Andrew Grey – decided to combine their households into a formal alliance, and as such was created the Consortium Turrium which is Latin for the Company of the Tower. The Consortium Turrium, or “CT”, was composed of the four peers, their spouses and children, the peers’ chosen students and those students’ families. Over the years, the bonds of family and friendship strengthened. Often times, members of the CT would gather and share holidays without any SCA involvement at all.

This past Saturday, the CT gathered to remember and celebrate the life of their fallen brother. Many representatives, and from all four member households, (along with cherished non-SCA friends) filled Master Kevin and Maestra Giuliana’s home to enjoy good music, good wine, homemade Mexican food, card games and an appropriate Monty Python movie. The laughter outweighed the tears and common bonds were renewed.

As long as we hold Rich in our hearts, he will never die.

Once an Eagle, always an Eagle


On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

A Scout is

trustworthy,
loyal,
helpful,
friendly,
courteous,
kind,
obedient,
cheerful,
thrifty,
brave,
clean, and
reverent.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi

Rich was proud of his Welsh heritage. Today is St. David’s Day.

Saint David’s Day (Welsh: Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, Welsh pronunciation: [dɨːð ɡʊɨl ˈdɛui]) is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March, the date of Saint David’s death in 589. The feast has been regularly celebrated since the canonisation of David in the 12th century, though it is not a national holiday in the UK.

Traditional festivities include wearing daffodils and leeks, recognised symbols of Wales and Saint David respectively, eating traditional Welsh food including cawl and Welsh rarebit, and women wearing traditional Welsh dress. An increasing number of cities and towns across Wales including Cardiff, Swansea and Aberystwyth also put on parades throughout the day.

August 29, 1970 – February 20, 2017

Atlas Systems sadly announces the passing of Rich Stryker, a long-time member of the Atlas team and Ares Product Liaison. Stryker died on Monday, February 20, 2017 following an extended journey with a rare abdominal cancer (pseudomyxoma peritonei).

Atlas Systems’ President and CEO, Jason Glover, said Stryker exemplified a strong work ethic and dedication to Atlas and its customers. “Rich touched almost every member of the Ares community, serving as the liaison who walked interested prospects through the licensing process. His goal was to ensure that customers and prospects had what they needed to be effective in serving their communities.”

Dan Specht, CFO and vice president of sales and marketing, commented, “I always enjoyed watching people’s reactions when they met Rich in person for the first time. Since most of the initial dialog with libraries interested in Ares was done via webinar, people were amazed when they saw that the gentle, soothing voice from the webinar was attached to a 6-foot-4 rugged hockey goalie.”

Specht continued, “That voice and caring personality extended far beyond just the Ares community. Rich was one of those people you could always count on. He was a consummate friend, father and family man. The biggest thing I will miss about Rich is the way he had of making you smile and fostering a positive outlook, regardless of what was going on around you.”

His easy-going nature and wry sense of humor made it easy to get the Atlas staff and many members of the Atlas product community to rally around him during his illness. Team Stryker offered comfort and support for Rich and his family and raised money for the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Tennessee, where Rich was being treated. Over the course of his illness, the Atlas Systems extended family raised over $5,000 for the Sarah Cannon Fund.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 2:00 pm at:

Winfree Church
13617 Midlothian Tpke
Midlothian, Virginia 23113

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers or other personal gifts, a donation be made to the Sarah Cannon Fund sarahcannonfund.org. Donations should be referenced as “Team Stryker” on the In honor of/In memory of line so that they can be accurately tracked.