Getting to Know You with Paula, a guest speaker program, will host Robert Richter, Esq., at 6 p.m. July 24 in the Great Room at The Atwater. Residents, family, friends and the general public are invited.
Richter is a true Floridian, born and raised in the Mandarin section of Jacksonville. After earning his law degree from FSU and a Master in Laws in taxation from the University of Florida, Richter had plans to move to Tampa and join a law firm specializing in tax law. His father, Larry, had other plans for his only son, and so his career took an unexpected turn and Richter joined his father in the family business.
When his father died in 1993 that business was under different ownership; however, Richter stayed on with them until 2019 when he was presented with an interesting opportunity with the American Retirement Association. As Richter had already served as president twice of this association, it was a good fit.
Today, his job with the American Retirement Association (not to be confused with AARP) is most unique. Working remotely, he is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of encyclopedias on retirement plan law — nine volumes (actually tomes) of detailed legal explanations, to be exact.
The Making of a Modern Renaissance Man
As interesting as all this is, it is really just the tip of the iceberg.
Nine years ago, at the age of 55, Richter decided he wanted to learn how to play the piano purely for his own pleasure. He bought an electric piano, started taking lessons, which he continues with to this day. When you ask Richter If he is good at it, he shrugs before answering and says, “I really don’t know, I know I enjoy it, I like the process, I love learning new things, so, I guess I will stick with it because it makes me happy.”
And isn’t that what it’s all about!
This new passion inspired a wonderful gift. Two years ago, for his 65th birthday, his girlfriend, Dena, threw him a surprise party where his two daughters and their husbands, along with his two sons and a daughter-in-law, gifted him with something very special: a Lego set that, when fully assembled, would be a baby grand piano.
A Masterpiece in Bricks
That thoughtful gift kicked off a whole new project. Over the course of many months, Richter spent hours meticulously putting together the Lego baby grand piano. Once completed, the piano connected to an app from Lego called “Lego Powered Up.” On that app are about 20 popular songs that, when played, the foot pedals and the piano keys move in sync, bringing the entire creation to life.
And so we come full circle, from a desire to learn to play the piano, to taking lessons, to his children paying attention to what their dad enjoyed, buying him a Lego set, Richter spending many hours putting it together and finally being able to share it.
Join others at 6 p.m. July 24 at Atwater to listen to Richter’s presentation and to get to see the Lego baby grand first hand.
The Atwater at Nocatee is located at 50 Pine Shadow Pkwy., Ponte Vedra.
