The death of 49 year old New Bedford City Council President Leo Pimental came as a shock to me as I wrote this story high above Broadway & 74th Street in New York. I had a couple of hours to kill so figured I'd surf the net and see what was up back home. I went to the Standard Times website to see the news and sadly, there was the headline. First my deepest condolences to the family of Leo. Secondly, I'd like to point out to the bereaved city councilors that you should remember that you as a group collectively gave him one of his proudest moments in his life by electing him city council president. I can still hear the tremor in his voice when he gave his emotional statement after the vote, "Not too bad for the fat kid from McGurk Street".

I don't know how best to describe him as a person and I'm certainly not in the top 100 qualified to do so but I think he can be summed up as a lovable local guy who tried his damn best which is more than most can say. I'd poke fun at his street slang and impersonate him with my "Yous guys", and " Dat' ain't right", and then take his call on the VIP line off the air laughing with him. He had the rare gift to be able to laugh at himself. I'd cringe at the Opening Day ceremonial pitches he'd throw every year down at the SEYAA which he'd loved for decades. His politics were straighter than his pitches to the plate, that's for sure. He didn't have anything to hide and as far as I'm concerned was as honest as he was outspoken. Leo wasn't a Harvard grad but what he was, was a local family guy who decided to try for that family and for his community. Thanks Leo, I'm sorry you weren't granted more time with your family. May God bring you home and give your family strength.
One day we'll all look back and say; Not bad at all Leo.