He was born in Brooklyn on May 5, 1945, to Albert and Mildred (née Petersen) Gulliksen and later served in the United States Navy. He studied at the School of Visual Arts and lived and worked on Warren Street for many years, where he watched the Twin Towers being built.
Rich and his wife, Sally Hobson, met at the Appalachian Mountain Club cabin on Fire Island and were married in Hempstead in March 1988. Together they made their home in Freeport for 15 years.
Their mutual love of the North Fork brought them to Reeves Park in Riverhead, where they lived part-time for five years. For the past seven years, they lived in Aquebogue.
Rich had been a carpenter for Harbes Farm in Mattituck, where he also had a studio. His sculpture is currently on display at the Terrence Joyce Gallery in Greenport.
Surviving are his wife, Sally Hobson; his father, Albert Gulliksen; two brothers, Eddie and Paul, all of Lynbrook; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Bobbie.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, Oct. 22, at 11:30 a.m. at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Mattituck with the Rev. Nils Blatz officiating. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.
Memorial donations may be made to East End Arts Council, 133 E. Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901.