Remembering Bob Grimaldi

Mostly, I really enjoy writing this column so I can push my own opinion and even, occasionally, the opinions of others. I can inform present and future North Forkers and sometimes even educate folks a little bit. I am, in my opinion, pretty good at being cynical and lousy at being funny.

No matter what, I care about the North Fork and my motive, always, is to promote this special place that I have enjoyed being a part of for over 70 years. Of course, the North Fork is special because of its natural beauty and wildlife, but also because of its people, either because of or in spite of their diversity, stubbornness or their equally strong love of the area, even if we don’t all agree. Therein lies the only drawback to writing this column.

I hate writing about friends and neighbors passing away. No words can convey the emotions their losses create. The recent passing of John Frederick and Alan McNeil were especially distressing, since they were friends of over 30 years. Now, this week, another long-time friend, Bob Grimaldi, has passed over the Great Divide.

Over the years, Bob was the most frequent reader who responded to my “What do you think” question. If his opinion was strongly opposed to my opinion, he would write to me via snail mail. If he wasn’t really mad, but wanted to enlist support, he would write a letter to the editor.

Bob always had strong opinions and he was always ready to give voice to them. When he was a resident of Polebridge, he was quick and strong with his dislike of loud music from the saloon. In the end, a compromise was reached where loud music was turned down or turned off at 10 p.m.

The fence around his property had fence posts surrounded by rocks, which he picked up along the county road and a few on the riverbank. The county was happy to have rocks picked up from the roadside, the Forest Service, not so much. A Forest employee informed Bob it was illegal to remove rocks from the riverbed without a permit and that he was to return them to the river. Bob told the officer he would be happy to comply, if the officer would point out which were river rocks, so he could put them back in the river. In the end, Bob agreed not to take any more river rocks and no charges were filed.

Perhaps, Bob’s biggest North Fork accomplishment was his anti-dust campaign. He, and others, started the Coalition for Health and Safety to battle against dust and for paving the North Fork Road. They financed a dust study by the University of Montana scientists and did a full-fledged media blitz. Their loud and persistent efforts caused Flathead County to hire a “dust deputy” to enforce speed limits and I am convinced created the public sentiment that resulted in the dust abatement of recent years.

Bob Grimadi was outspoken, often controversial, and my friend. He will be missed by many.

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.