A Blessed Life Richard "Rick" Chavez, a loving husband, father, uncle, son, brother, loyal friend, an Air Force Veteran, a preeminent sports media personality, a dedicated content producer, and a devoted follower of Christ was called Home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 16, 2023, at the age of 65. He took his last breath in his home in San Antonio, Florida. Rick lived a life full of passion, purpose, and faith and leaves behind an indelible mark on the hearts of all of those who knew him. Rick was born on September 8, 1957 in El Paso, Texas to his proud parents, Pedro Chavez and Alicia Meraz Chavez, who instilled in him values of hard work, perseverance and a deep faith in God. He developed a passion for sports at a young age. In his own words, Rick wrote "I played wiffle ball in the backyard, pitched to a spare tire on the side of the garage, dodged my Moms clotheslines to play one-man football and spent countless hours in the basement sorting out my baseball cards and doing stats for my fantasy league." This passion stayed with him throughout his life, leading to a successful and illustrious 40 plus-year career in Radio and TV Broadcasting. He learned his craft with the American Forces Radio & TV Service (AFRTS) while stationed in Incirlik, Turkey. After his Air Force days, he became an award-winning Sports Anchor / Sports News Director for NBC11, ABC7, ESPN and KRON4 in the San Francisco Bay Area. He anchored for all the major sports events, from college championships to major league playoffs - NBA, NFL, NHL, and covered the World Series and the Super Bowl. He interviewed and shared screens with the biggest celebrities in sports, including Olympians and Hall-of-Famers from every sport, notably Coaches Don Haskins, John Wooden, Bill Walsh, George Siefert, and Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Tiger Woods, Kristi Yamaguchi, Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, and George Foreman, among many others. He became a business reporter for CNBC-Europe and a Trade Show host for Cisco and Oracle, hosted a business radio show, and won four Telly Awards for documentaries and broadcast and production excellence. But Ricks passion for sports and media was surpassed by his love for his family, his country, and his passion for Christ. Since accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 2007, Rick dedicated his life to studying and amplifying The Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2011, he graduated from the Jubilee Bible College as the Valedictorian of his class. In the last 15 years, he channeled his storytelling talents and leadership gifts to establish a Media Ministry. He served tirelessly to build media teams and launch innovative media for various churches in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Jubilee Christian Center (now Redemption), Shiloh Church in Oakland and Encounter Church in San Leandro. Together with his wife, Ann, Rick co-founded DreamCasters, a publishing company that honors and glorifies Christ by producing media for Churches, publishing books for Pastors, and ghostwriting for Christian entrepreneurs. He also created sites that honor American ideals and values. On top of that, he authored his own book "How Big is Your Dream," which is filled with inspiration and wisdom for those who desire to use their God-given talents to the fullest. Rick's faith in Jesus was evident in every aspect of his life. He never missed a day reading the Bible, listening to Christian podcasts, and sharing devotions with his family. His heart's desire was to see his loved ones come to know Jesus as he did. He and Ann joined a Bible Study Group that meets every Monday, Prayer Calls every Tuesday, and a Small Group Meeting every Thursday. He served in ministries that help strengthen men, support global missionaries, feed the homeless, and win souls for The Lord. Rick's greatest joy was being a devoted husband to Ann, and father to his sons, Ricky and Danny, and his stepchildren, Charles, Macey and Joseph, whom he treated as his own with unconditional love, dedication and support. In his free time, Rick and his family explored the beautiful coasts of California and Florida. Carmel, Pebble Beach, Half-Moon Bay, San Francisco Bay and Tampa Bay are among his favorites. He enjoyed visiting military museums in various states, watching vintage movies at The Stanford Theatre, trying various international cuisines from street food to high-end, and he never could pass up a bookstore where he often purchased Bibles and Christian books to add to his collection. Rick was happiest when surrounded by his loved ones, sharing stories and laughter. He was always there to lend a helping hand or a listening ear, and he had a way of making everyone feel seen and valued. His kindness and generosity touched the lives of countless people, and his unwavering faith in God was an inspiration to all who knew him. He claimed that his greatest accomplishment was to bring the family to Florida, which he called their "forever home on earth." He is survived by his wife Ann, his children, Ricky, Danny, Charles, Macey, Joseph, his brother Robb, and his sister Suzy and his nephews, Ryan and Matthew. Ricks legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, the stories he told, and the love he shared with his family and friends. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. He will be remembered as a man who lived his life with passion, purpose and unwavering faith. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 31st at the Hodges Family Funeral Homes in Zephyrhills, followed by a Committal Service at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Florida. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending memorial contributions to support a healing ministry that Ann will create in memory of Rick. On a piece of paper, Rick wrote his plans to start a project that "glorifies God and offers hope and support to his fellow cancer patients." Ann will pursue this as part of Ricks legacy. Checks can be addressed to Ann Villapando Chavez to help fulfill his wish. And so Ricks story lives on. Visitation Friday, March 31, 2023 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Hodges Family Funeral Home (Zephyrhills) 36327 State Road 54 Zephyrhills, Florida 33541 Funeral Service Friday, March 31, 2023 11:00 AM Hodges Family Funeral Home (Zephyrhills) 36327 State Road 54 Zephyrhills, Florida 33541 Graveside Service Friday, March 31, 2023 1:30 PM Florida National Cemetery 6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, Florida 33513