The Niles Star

Dick Fintze remembered during Riverfest

Dear editor:

There was a bittersweet taste to this years Niles Riverfest event this past weekend. One of the main men of the festival, Dick Fintze past way this year.

I believe the event was one of Niles’ finest weekends. The weather was perfect and every event came off without a problem. The Raft Race, Dragonboat Challenge and the Classic Car Show were all well attended. The entertainment was at its finest with touring acts like the Sullivan Family Blugrass band sharing the same stage as our local favorites, The Van Dyke Revue. There were new additions like the BMX Bike Show and the tasty organic food vendors with the “Love Pies.”

This past weekend everyone in Niles worked together to make me proud of my hometown. I believe Dick Fintze would also have been proud to see the event he helped start and worked hard to make so special become an event that is one of the best in the Midwest. I joined the Niles Riverfest committee in 1995 and Dick taught me and many others how to put on a great community event. I believe after what I saw this past weekend, he did a good job as mentor, coach and friend to all of us.

For a moment this past weekend I stepped away from the festival to think about Dick. I watched the Boy Scouts launching rafts and remembered Dick was an Eagle Scout. I wondered what the festival would be like without him when I attended his funeral.

This past weekend I knew we were all better for having Dick around to help us find the way. I believe he was there in all of us at the festival and at times we didn’t realize it, it was natural, it was his subtle way. I would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone how much he meant to the success of Riverfest and his memory continues to make a difference.

Thank you, Richard Fintze.

Tom Majerek

Niles