[11][12] Upon retiring, Rich initially used his civil engineering degree, working for a time on what was to become the Willis Tower and became a commodities trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

[4] A teammate of his with the 1971 Winnipeg Whips, Triple A affiliate of the Montreal Expos, was the father of major leaguer John Olerud, who was in medical school while playing baseball.

Looking for something that would be as inspirational to him as baseball was, the two discussed the possibilities and Nye learned he needed some undergraduate science credits to be a candidate for the University of Illinois' veterinary program.

[11][16][17] The practice that Nye and Brown started outgrew its original home in Westchester;[4] in 2005, it moved to its present location in Elmwood Park, Illinois.

[18] He is the author of several veterinary textbook chapters on avian medicine, serves as a consultant, and had continued to see patients at Ness Exotic Wellness Center in Lisle, Illinois on a part-time basis[11] until his retirement in 2024.