I'm Right Again Dot Com                   

A new commentary every Wednesday - June 14, 2017

Emil Franzi, an old friend, died one week ago, following his second bout with the ravages of cancer.

    If you are an Arizonan, and in particular, one involved in any way whatsoever in politics, you recognize the name. I first met Emil forty-some-odd years ago when, as the manager of some aspirant's campaign, he came to my office in a local radio station to arrange for the purchase of political advertising.

    Full disclosure: Over the years, through sales commissions for several candidates' campaigns, Franzi helped me cover tuition for my children at the University of Arizona and to put groceries on the table at the Richardson household. After I retired from broadcasting, he was very generous in providing airtime on his radio programs and space on the Southern Arizona News-Examiner to publish my opinions...and peddle my books.

    Since his passing, scores of people involved in the media and public office have posted what I would like to term a composite obituary. He was a fierce campaigner and a an indefatigable worker for the people and issues in which he believed. He and his body of work will be missed.

    Most of all, I wish to stress that Emil's love for others shined through his unique charisma. I will forever regret not cultivating a closer relationship with him, for we had so much in common—The West and classical music—to mention a couple.

    That may a worthwhile takeaway: there are others among those whom each of us is acquainted who deserve a word of appreciation for being who they are and what they mean to us— before it's too late. 

  -Phil Richardson, Observer of the human condition and storyteller. "He goes doddering on into his old age, making a public nuisance of himself." - Joseph L. Mencken