Beloved son of the late Neil A. and Barbara Ann (nee Brandt) Fiala; loving brother of Neil S. (Kim) Fiala, Sherry Fiala, James (Elaine) Fiala, Barbara Therese “Terri” (Matthew) Menghini and the late Chris Fiala; adoring uncle of Lori (Scott) Schultz, Leslie (Ian) Urbas, Brandon Fiala, Dr. Mark Aaron (Kellisa) Fiala, Keli (Chris) Riesenbeck, Grant Fiala, Nicholas (Natalie) Menghini, Marcus Menghini, Krista (Greg) Staley, Travis Menghini and Melissa (Thomas) George and the late Lisa Fiala; cherished great-uncle of 13. Our dearest cousin and friend to many.
Rick loved sports and Vianney High School sports in particular. His senior year at Vianney he was a Baseball District All-American in 1976. The following two years he helped Meramec JC make it to the Junior College World Series and was a Junior College All-American his sophomore year. From there he moved on the Southern Illinois – Carbondale and played two years on two good Southern Illinois Baseball teams.
He then taught English at CBC high school and was a freshman football coach and a Varsity baseball coach for many years. He also coached Legion baseball and eventually moved on to coaching in the St. Louis Metro Baseball League. All the while he was still playing baseball for the Sauget Wizards in the Mon-Clair League.
He eventually started officiating high school Football and Basketball. He life took a major turn in October 2007 when after officiating a football game was involved in a car crash that left him partially paralyzed. The recovery was long and slow and he never fully recovered. He was one of the top fans for Vianney sports as he was constantly seen and football, basketball and baseball games. He kept coaching baseball in the Metro League and gave hitting lessons until this past year. He peacefully passed away on Tuesday, March 24th.
In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to the Vianney High School scholarship fund. https://www.vianney.com/giving/donate-now
A memorial visitation will be held at Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd. 63123 on Sunday, April 26 from 2:00 pm.-5:00 pm. Memorial Mass on Monday, April 27 at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque 4900 Ringer Road 63129 at 10:00 am. Interment at Calvary Cemetery will be held in private.
Gone way too soon…I always enjoyed our time at CBC and hope he is at peace. May God welcome him into the afterlife.
“Bill Plager”, rest in peace.
Rick wasn’t just the best baseball coach I ever had, he was a great friend as well. He challenged me because he cared about me, and brought out the best in me and my teammates. I have so many fond memories of Rick, I was blessed to have him as a teacher and a coach at CBC, and was lucky to call him a dear friend. RIP Coach. You were one of a kind and irreplaceable.
Rick was a great baseball coach. His passion for the game was unmatched. One of the best baseball minds I have ever worked with. I looked up to Rick and he taught me a lot about the game. He will be missed.
There’s not a better Vianney sports fan. May you rest in peace, Rick. You’ll be missed.
Rick was great friend and so kind to all the kids he worked with throughout the years. I’ll miss talking Saluki sports with him. He will be dearly missed. My condolences and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time.
I was very lucky to have Rick as my high school and American Legion coach. He picked me up one Sunday morning and we drove around for an hour while he not so subtly encouraged me to pull my head out my —-. I remember it like it was yesterday, and he did it because he cared. He was a great coach, and best baseball mind I was ever around. RIP coach!
My condolences to Neil and all in the Fiala family.
I’ve known Rick for nearly 60 years, from summer camps at Long School, through our years at Vianney High School and into adulthood. I can’t remember a time when he didn’t have a smile on his face and energy in his voice, even when he suffered the affects of his accident. His energy was infectious. That energy will be missed. God bless him and keep him.
I had the pleasure of playing for and coaching with Rick. We lost a great baseball warrior and an awesome friend! I can picture him waiving in the runner rounding third right now!! RIP Rick!!!
“Hit the (BLANK) out of the ball!!!”
Thanks for everything Rick!
Rick and I played baseball togeher on the Sauget Wizards, and he was the ultimate teammate and friend. He was with us in Millington, Tenn when we defeated Team USA (the US National Team) 6-5 and it was a joy to share that huge victory with him.
A class person. A wonderful friend. A massively strong human, who dealt with more physical challenges than anyone could be expected to overcome. We will all miss him, and cherish those times in the dubout and on the field, when Rick was one of our leaders and a great friend.