Islander Gerry Joseph Richards died on Jan. 4 in a car accident.

He was born Jan. 15, 1984 to Tim and Lynn Richards.

He grew up on Vashon and went to school on the island for 13 years.

He had just finished his first quarter at Shoreline Community College and had received his highest grades in many years.

He had also just moved to his first apartment in Shoreline and was looking forward to a shorter commute.

Richards, according to his family, was an avid tennis player at the high school and was planning on joining the tennis team at Shoreline. He was also an avid bowler and enjoyed bowling almost as much as tennis.

He cherished and enjoyed the many close friends he spent time with.

Gerry Richards is survived by his family including his parents and brother Michael and sister Lisa of Vashon; uncle and aunt Steve and Jane Poisson of Cannon Beach, Ore.; uncle and aunt Greg and Denise Richards and cousins Lindsay and Scott Richards and step-cousins Larry, Tammy and Kelly Bishop of Sterling Heights, Mich.; uncle and aunt Jeff and Patty Richards of Royal Oak, Mich.; uncle and aunt Tom and Gail Keller and cousins Brian, Greg, and Nicole of Milford, Mich.; aunt Pam Monroe and cousin Courtney of Detroit, MIch.; great aunt Diane Richards of Oak Park, Mich.; grandparents Cecil and Norma Richards of Gladwin, Mich.; and many friends who, according to his parents, he love with all of his heart.

Richards was preceded in death by his grandparents Gerald J. and Margaret C. Poisson.

Remembrances can be made to the Gerald J. Richards Tennis Scholarship Fund, c/o Bank of America, PO Box 857, Vashon, Wash. 98070.