Rick Springer grew up in a Lutheran family, but was invited to a Catholic mass by a friend and “was wowed by the magic show.” He As a young teenager, he became interested in becoming a priest. A priest at the friend’s parish offered to help Rick. Instead, he raped him. Rick’s life was forever changed.
Survival & Advocacy
As an adult, Rick became a pioneer in the clergy abuse survivor movement to blow the whistle on what religious figures and others of influence were doing to children and then conspiring to cover up their heinous crimes.
A United States Air Force veteran and former lifeguard from a family of elite swimmers, Rick became involved with The LINKUP, SNAP, VOTF, and wherever else he believed he could make a difference, support other survivors, and protect children from similar, life-altering trauma.
Wisdom of the Children co-hosts Lisa Kendzior and Kate Bochte have many things in common – including Rick Springer. Rick’s perpetrator was a priest at the parish where Lisa grew up, in a suburb of Chicago, and Kate met Rick years later and they did many Chicago-area events together.
Below is a video Kate put together in 2014 for Rick’s memorial service, days after he passed on. One of the last things Rick said, from his bed in Hines VA Hospital, was, “I hope I made a difference.” He most certainly did. We miss him and will always be honored to have known him and advocated with this unique and amazing gentleman.
Remembering Rick Springer
Rick’s Story
Rick’s story is featured in the book Crosses, edited by Carmine Galasso, who also contributed all of the photography in the book.