Richard Massfeller has been riding in memory of Sam Edward Etheredge, Jr. since 2016. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Craig Capri, former Daytona Beach Police Chief, and Richard Massfeller ride in the 2024 Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride. Courtesy photo
Craig Capri and Richard Massfeller during the 2024 Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride. Courtesy photo
Richard Massfeller rides in the Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride. Courtesy photo
Richard Massfeller (far left) rides in a memorial bike ride. Courtesy photo
Richard Massfeller has never forgotten his childhood hero.
Sam Edward Etheredge, Jr. was five years older than him. Massfeller, of Ormond Beach, has many memories of Etheredge over the years — from playing in Little League while Etheredge played in the Babe Ruth League, to Etheredge being his church camp counselor. It was the '60s, and everyone knew each other in town.
Etheredge would go on to become a police officer for Daytona Beach and Massfeller, who never worked in law enforcement, always considered him a mentor and friend.
So when he heard that Etheredge had been shot and killed in the line of duty on Christmas morning, 1980, the news came with an emotional impact. Etheredge was 34 years old. He had been the first DBPD officer killed in the line of duty in 35 years.
"It was a sad, dark day in my life," Massfeller said.
For the past decade, Massfeller has participated in memorial bike rides in Etheredge's honor. On Thursday, Sept. 10, he will embark on his ninth annual Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride in New York City. He will ride for four days and 280 miles, concluding in Boston on Sept. 13, riding through the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride was started in 2002 by New York Police Department Detective Robert De Paolis, who created the ride to honor the officers who died in the attacks.
It won't be Massfeller's first time standing at Ground Zero, but he expects it to be an emotional experience just the same.
"You really feel that the souls are still there," Massfeller said. "This feeling comes over you that's almost impossible for me to describe."
Massfeller's teammate for the ride will be former Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri, who is now the chief for the Eustis Police Department.
Massfeller started participating in memorial rides after looking up charity rides online and discovering the Florida Tour de Force.
"It was just like [Etheredge] put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Ride for me,'" Massfeller said.
And he did — for five days and 270 miles in 2016. His jersey had a photo of Etheredge, which caught the attention of Capri and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, who was the Daytona Beach police chief at the time. Massfeller shared his story of growing up with Ethredge and the pair welcomed him. Without taking part in that ride, he would have never participated in the 9/11 ride.
Now 10 years later, 74-year-old Massfeller continues to ride in his friend's memory. It's the most patriotic act he can think to do, he said.
In 2023, he and Capri delivered a $6,000 Tour de Force check to the Polk County Sheriff's Office to benefit the family of the late Deputy Blane Lane, who was killed in the line of duty in 2022.
"When you stand with loved ones that lost their breadwinner and their hero, the little losses that we have in our lives pale in comparison to the losses that they felt, and do feel," Massfeller said. "I'm just a person that found a way to give back."
Massfeller said he feels Etheredge's presence often. He stays in touch with his family — his widow Susie and two daughters, Lynne and Michele.
Etheredge was a wonderful father, Massfeller said. He was giving, caring and both faithfully and physically strong.
"He had a heart of gold, and he would give anybody the shirt off his back," Massfeller said. "For me, to grow up with people like that and those values, I'm the luckiest guy in the world."
To support Massfeller in the 2026 Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride, visit https://grouprev.com/fundraiser-support/45301/donate. All proceeds will benefit families of fallen officers. Massfeller has raised $2,300 of his $5,000 goal.
