Rich was my next door Neighbor for many years. My now deceased wife Marie, and Tish became friends through the VNA of Central NJ.

Rich was very much like a brother to me. Not only was he a Dear Fiend, but also a great Mentor.

He was also encouraged me to try and take the courses to become a Master Gardner.

To this very day, I sill employ all of the gardening techniques he taught me, right here in my mumble garden plot at my house in Manchester, NH.

Today, I am Dedicating it "The Rich Obal Memorial Garden" in his Honor.

Godspeed Rich as you arrive in the Kingdom of The Master Gardener of Souls.

Peace & Love,

Marty Dowd

What a warm and kind man with sparkling friendly eyes, Rich will live on in our hearts and in our gardens as he shared so much wisdom with us at the Master Gardeners classes. My sympathies to to family..

Margaret Katz

Rich was a great colleague and everyone really enjoyed working with him. We planned many Extension meetings together and he really loved teaching and sharing his knowledge with others. We will really miss our good friend and colleague. .

Rich was always a pleasure to work with. My deepest condolences to his family.

Rich brought knowledge, wit, and compassion to all he accomplished in Rutgers Cooperative Extension and beyond. I am fortunate to have worked with him while he served as Monmouth County Extension Department Head. Your smile will stay in my memory forever. R-I-P teacher, scholar, friend.

Will always be indebted to Mr. Obal for his invaluable support in helping me to relocate & re-establish my Rutgers greenhouse & nursery IPM monitoring/consulting services from southern NJ counties to more in Monmouth County during 2005. Undoubtedly, this allowed me to extend my Rutgers career for an additional 15 years plus & still running. Thank-you sir, I will never forget. You will be missed. Steven K. Rettke

Rich will be missed, not only as a patient of many years but as a friend who so generously shared his knowledge, joy, and plant clippings! May he rest comfortably now as he re-plants God's gardens.

Fondly, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Peduto

Rich always had a smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes as he excitedly shared his knowledge of plants. He was a gentle soul with a kind heart. He shared his dahlia bulbs with all of us. I had a variety that would change colors as the flowers matured. I adored seeing the changing colors. But between limited space and laziness, I shared the bulbs back with other volunteers. Now I regret not having something in my garden to remember him by.

I can still see his smiling face and twinkling eyes. I'm sure where ever he is, he is still smiling and twinkling down on all of us. RIP Rich, you will be greatly missed by many.

Wanna Chin, MG 2003

What a wealth of knowledge of the plant world he shared with our MG class of 1999. I will always think of him when in my garden.

Marian Bussetti

MG '99

Rich was our guiding force in the first class of Master Gardeners in 1999. He made it so interesting that we are still here because of his guidance. Thank you, Rich, for that you have done to make the Master Gardeners a reality.

Joan Carroll

MG '99