Memorial for John Pitsavas -- September 10, 2007

We logged more than a few miles in ’96-98 going up to help them fight that one — and WIN! To get that call in a break between witnesses in this hearing was so appropriate — Bob always encouraged me to stand up and fight for what was right. He “adopted” me not long after I met him while looking for a place to live after law school, and he let me and my brown tabby “fish” live in the best rental unit in Northfield with the best view and the best downstairs neighbors. He opened up the town for me with liberal introductions and the inside story, gleefully argued politics and traded lobbying tips, freely offered an awful lot of advice and a broad view of history.

In what would be our last visit, I brought Alan for introductions and Bob’s stamp of approval, and they quickly got a little rowdy trading stories of fighting garbage incinerators, Bob, about the one they’d planned for Northfield, and Alan about his in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and now St. Paul. I didn’t know NSP had tried to pass off a Red Wing styled burner on Northfield, and didn’t know Bob was passionately against garbage burning and how much he promotes and believes in recycling (there’s always a twist that we don’t know about Bob!) Within minutes, those two were grinning and waving their hands in the air as they shared their victories and struggles. Bob heartily approved and wished us well, and later put it in writing in a touching note.

I’m oh so grateful to have been blessed with Bob, mentor, public watchdog and the most delightful pain in the governmental posterior! He had a full and good life, freely giving, and “giving what for!” On Monday, it’s back to fighting the Chisago transmission line, and I’ll try to give NSP a few jabs in memory of Jake!

Andy Langehough with Benson & Langehough Funeral Home and Cremation has the John Pitsavas obit blog post on Northfield.org.

The eery thing about Pitsavas accident is that’s almost EXACTLY where my accident was back in ’96. I also happen to drive almost the same car he was driving at the time.