Life story

" Tomish Rickett was a loving Son, Brother, Nephew and friend. Whether cheering him on at the Special Olympics or at Love Church with Pastor Josh and his church family, Tomish was loved and celebrated by his large group of family, friends and loved ones!

A true fighter. Tomish overcame many struggles in his journey, including a premature birth and a year long attachment to a ventilator as a baby, learning how to walk with cerebral palsy and living a fulfilling life with the limitations of Autism and a seizure disorder.

Tomish's journeys took him around the world to see his beloved ocean, with trips to Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Virginia Beach, Disney World, Ocean City, MD and visiting family in Florida, Michigan and Missouri.

Tomish began his education at age 3, and quickly developed a love for attending school, his instructors and school buses! He learned sign language as a way to communicate with his friends and loved ones. As Tomish grew older, he ended up attending middle and high school in Virginia, attending all the dances and proms with his friends and beloved teachers before graduating from Kettlerun high school in 2017.

If there was a person who did not know the negative side of people, it was Tomish. Although he spent many of his days under the care of health professionals and caretakers, a smile never left his face, and he was always happy to see everyone, including total strangers. He developed a love of firetrucks and the firemen who would help him, growing fast friendships and fun experiences with different firehouses around the country. His love of firetrucks was matched by his love of the Ocean, the peacefulness of the waters and the sounds of the crashing waves bringing him tranquility.

Tomish was a bright light in the lives of all those he met, and his light will continue to shine bright in our hearts and memories forever. "