John Richard "Rick" Passman, 62, passed away February 27, 2022 at the Richard Murphy Hospice House in Hammond, LA.

Visitation is Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 10:00 AM until services at 12 noon at Centenary United Methodist Church where Dr. Jonathan Speegle, Mrs. Connie Felter and lifelong friend, Donnie Coker, will officiate.

Rick entered this world on March 14, 1959, in Baton Rouge, LA, a strong healthy boy with a heart like none other. He started working at an early age and by 10 years of age, he had lost his big toe mowing a yard. The rest of his childhood and teenage years he worked for his beloved grandfather on weekends and summers painting houses.

He loved spending time playing with his siblings Janet, Robert, Ron and his cousins, the Allen Girls. In high school, he played football for South Pike and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Southwest Mississippi Community College where he played football for two years and made lifelong friends.

He took a break from college to work for Tommy and Emily Austin at Austin Distributing Company where he worked his way up to the General Manager position. During this time, he continued his education at The University of Southern Mississippi where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services. After Austin Distributing was sold, he went to work in the food industry, for Merchants Food Service. Everywhere he went, he made wonderful friends and his many customers in the beer and food service became not just customers but cherished friends. During this time, he met his wife of 25 years, Judi Lambert Passman.

They were overjoyed with the birth of their two sons who were his pride and joy. Early Onset Alzheimer's took away his ability to work and to drive but his friend Bob Hemeter put him to work in the neighborhood picking up litter, delivering meals for St. Andrew's and joined a coffee group that loved and supported him throughout his illness. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church where his abiding faith continued to grow. He was an avid tennis player and more than avid LSU fan. But as much as he loved LSU, his love for his boys was greater.

There was nobody as proud as he was when his oldest son Jake left for Ole Miss and he was sure his youngest son Bert would follow in his older brother's footsteps. Thus, he passed away being an Ole Miss fan after all. Nothing pleased him more than to see his boys happy. He took great care of his mother and adored his sister Janet. When she received her pHD he was as proud as anyone could be. His devotion to his wife could not be surpassed.

The last coherent words anybody heard him say was ju ju ju ju ju. God has taken a fine servant who always followed 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Love is patient love is kind. He lived it the short time he was with all of us who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents John William Passman and Joyce Wolbrecht Passman and his brother, Robert Passman.

He is survived by his wife, Judi Lambert Passman, two sons, John Richard and Thomas Lambert; sister, Janet Passman McKinney and husband Wayne; brother, Ronnie Passman; his wife's parents, Margy Wicker and Pat Lambert; lifelong mentor and friends, John and Gail Ott along with their children, Tori, JJ, Brent and Jake; and exceptional caregivers, Samantha Salley and Crystal Newman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Richard Murphy Hospice House or to the National Alzheimer's Association.