our team

After retiring from military service to enjoy life with my wife and children, I could not stop thinking about those who were not as fortunate. The children of parents who did not make it home that are left to carry the weight no child should bear. I kept asking myself: Who helps them smile again? Who reminds them they're not alone?

That question became my vision for Magic Memories Foundation. Created to give grieving children a place where joy can return and where they feel they truly belong. Every memory we create lifts some of the weight of loss and reminds each child what it means to smile, to connect, and to simply be a kid again.

But I knew the journey could not end with a single experience. That is why every child becomes part of the Magic Memories family through our Moments of Magic Together events. I wanted them to meet others who share the same loss, to build friendships that last, and to know deep in their hearts that they are never alone.

David Rickey is a retired CEO and former Chairman of Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC), where he led the company’s transformation into a multibillion-dollar leader in technology. His decades of executive leadership and governance experience now help guide Magic Memories Foundation. 

Micah Waterman is an active duty military service member who knows firsthand the sacrifices made by those who serve and the impact on the families they leave behind. His connection and perspective brings a powerful voice to Magic Memories Foundation, ensuring that the children of fallen heroes are never forgotten.