Richard (Rico) Fitch Corrington Jr. passed away at his home in Lexington, Virginia, on October 8, 2025, at the age of 70.

He was born on October 26, 1954, in Palo Alto, Calif., to the late Richard F. and Frances B. Corrington.

His childhood years were spent in Northfield, Ill., where he attended North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Ill. He graduated from high school in Greenwich, Conn., and after receiving a bachelor of arts degree in geology from Denison University, he joined his family in Lexington.

After several years working in construction, Rico began attending horticulture classes at Virginia Tech in order to pursue his chosen career: launching Rick's Custom Nursery in 1981. As a wholesale nursery he sold perennials to garden centers and commercial landscapers throughout Virginia.

When he met his future wife, Debbie, in 1999, they began selling to the general public, exhibiting at Botanical Garden Fairs every spring and fall until his chronic back pain forced his retirement in 2015. However, Rico never lost his passion for plants and continued in his last years developing an arboretum on their property with over 400 trees and shrubs for the enjoyment of the local wildlife.

His grandmother instilled a love and appreciation of nature and plants at an early age and he will be remembered for sharing that knowledge with family and friends when they joined him for nature walks on the family’s property along the shores of Lake Charlevoix in Michigan. Rico will also be remembered as a devoted Deadhead, listening to the Grateful Dead whether he was at home, at the lake, in his car or driving his golf cart through the arboretum.

Surviving are his spouse, Debbie, and her children, Caleb (Mindy) Boulier; Emily (Matt) Cote and children, Chase and Amelia; and Ben Boulier. Rico enjoyed their visits through the years and especially appreciated their help in his final years.

Also surviving are his brother, William B. Corrington, and his sister, Francie Corrington. His brother, James F. Corrington, predeceased him in 2019.

We will honor Rico's desire not to have any formal service but we invite family and friends to gather at our home on Sunday, November 2, at 2 p.m. to share our memories.

"By the waterside I will rest my bones - Listen to the river sing sweet songs - To rock my soul" - Grateful Dead