Edric Julian Gilbert Jr., a longtime resident of the Outer Cape and a founder of the popular Café Blasé, died on July 27, 2025 at Seashore Point in Provincetown. He was 82.

Rick was born in Walpole on Jan. 7, 1943 to the late Edric Gilbert and Barbara Pascoe Gilbert. He went to Walpole High School, graduating in 1960, and then enlisted in the Navy. After getting out of the service, he got a job at Sears but felt dissatisfied and left for San Francisco. That move, in the late 1960s, changed his life, he said.

Rick came to Provincetown from San Francisco in the mid-1970s because of entreaties from his high school friend Brian Hart, who was opening a cafe on Commercial Street. He persuaded Rick to leave his bartending job at Spec’s in North Beach, directly across from the City Lights bookstore, and join a group of friends in running what would become a fixture of the Provincetown café scene for 30 years.

Rick eventually became the main manager and worked at Café Blasé until it closed in 2005. The early days of this venture had all the managers living at the café, where in preparation for the season opening there were many great meals together, much camaraderie, and the famous lantern painting party where everyone hand-painted the lanterns that adorned the space.

When he was not working, Rick could be found at his favorite spot, Front Street, or at one of the other restaurants and bars in town. He loved the town’s restaurant scene and all the people involved in it. Many people passed through the café as employees or customers, and he was enthusiastic, patient, and considerate with everyone. For the rest of his life, he spoke of his love for all who had worked at the café.

His days off found him at Spectacle Pond in Wellfleet, where he would put up his hammock and do the New York Times crossword puzzle. In winters, he returned to San Francisco and his many friends there.

An avid reader, Rick decided one winter to read Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past in its entirety. He approached it every day as a challenge. He enjoyed watching cooking shows — his favorite was The Barefoot Contessa — and loved cooking for friends.

Nobody could beat Rick at Scrabble.

He also loved his cat companions, Sophie and Alice, who lived with him for 18 years.

After Café Blasé closed, Rick went to work at Duarte’s parking lot, where many former Blasé employees and friends stopped to say hello. He remained at Duarte’s until the parking lot was sold.

Rick lived for 20 years on Briar Lane in Wellfleet and then returned to Provincetown. He always remarked on how well he was received and how much he loved the community, and he often said that he would never leave. Toward the end of his life, he expressed deep gratitude for the staff at Seashore Point who took such good care of him.

Rick is survived by his brother, Roger Gilbert of Franklin; his sisters, Patricia MacLeod of Norton and Linda Gilbert of Norwood; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Margaret Marshall.