HE LEAVES A PROUD LEGACY
Category General News
It's with great sadness that Wakefields management and staff bid farewell to Mike Riceman, Manager of the flagship Berea branch for 16 years, a highly valued director of Wakefields Real Estate and active member of the management team. Mike passed away on Wednesday June 16th after a brave battle with cancer.
Mike's journey with Wakefields is as long as the company history. He began his career with JHI and when Wakefields merged with them 26 years ago, Mike was part of the team. He began at our Beach branch and his success there led to him being asked to head up our largest branch, the Berea. We knew he was the right man for the job and he proved to be just that and more. Decades of managing, mentoring and encouraging young interns and supporting well-established consultants as colleagues, Mike and the Berea Branch were regulars up on the podium at Wakefields awards time.
So many Wakefields staff at Head Office and in the Berea branch have spent years working alongside Mike and will sorely miss his quiet diplomacy, experienced advice, understated leadership and, of course, his friendship and support. Chairman Keith Wakefield paid tribute to Mike: "There was no finer team player. His sales consultants and admin staff always came first and he fought tooth and nail for all those who worked for him. He was an immensely loyal and kind person, always looking out for others, never missing a birthday. He's a tremendous loss to Wakefields, but way more than that, we'll miss him as an immensely likeable and warm person."
Mike Riceman was an integral part of the broader Wakefields family and the gap left by his absence will be felt for a very long time. The Wakefields family and members of staff send their heartfelt commiserations to Mike's family.
Author: Anne Schauffer
