He was noticeably absent from the weekend’s festivities, but
Dick Nicholls was honored all through the 27th annual Garlic
Festival for being the leader behind the ever-successful
celebration.
He was called an
”
angel
”
watching over the busy festival by Jennifer Speno, festival
president, in her wrap-up speech Sunday evening.
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – He was noticeably absent from the weekend’s festivities, but Dick Nicholls was honored all through the 27th annual Garlic Festival for being the leader behind the ever-successful celebration.
He was called an “angel” watching over the busy festival by Jennifer Speno, festival president, in her wrap-up speech Sunday evening.
“The numbers prove that he was there,” she said. “I think he would be very proud that we were able to come together and make this a great festival.”
Nicholls had been executive director of the Garlic Festival Association for roughly 20 years when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March.
But even as his battle with cancer took him away from his involvement with the festival planning, he was calm, according to his wife Brigitte, knowing that it was in good hands.
“When he was diagnosed, he pretty much went to his staff that day and started handing things over,” Brigitte said. “I, in my heart, believed that Dick never worried about anything (having to do with the festival.)”
Nicholls died in June, after a nearly three-month battle, and just as the planning for the festival was reaching breakneck speed.
Speno dedicated the festival to Nicholls and included a tribute in the festival program and at the opening ceremonies. She and the association directors, advisory and committee chairs also welcomed Brigitte and the Nicholls’ twin sons Justin and Jerrod, 20, to spend time at the festival and initiate the torch hand-off from the flaming garlic bulb to Gourmet Alley.
This was the first year Brigitte really got to see the behind-the-scenes of the festival, she said on Sunday as she and her sons enjoyed the wrap party. She spent much of the weekend volunteering, helping where needed or shadowing Speno. Justin volunteered with the media relations committee.
As she spent time with various association members, many of whom are long-time volunteers, Brigitte was touched by their remembrances of her husband.
“They shared different memories or told me what his ideas were,” she said, such as the new 12-foot inflatable Herbies posted in the park. “Just little things that, they’re not big, but they made a difference.”
“It was overwhelming, the amount of love we received from everybody,” Justin Nicholls said. “It was like being around family.”
Some festival organizers have noted that Nicholls was at the helm of the association for so long, they weren’t sure they even knew all the things he did or the way he took care of them. Speno kept Nicholls from worrying about any problems, Brigitte said.
“She afforded him the luxury of time and flexibility,” she said. “There couldn’t have been, in my mind, a better president this year. Dick would have been proud.”
The association members and their family who were present for the wrap party gave Brigitte, Justin and Jerrod a deafening round of applause and a standing ovation as Speno remembered their beloved director.
“We always knew that the festival was Dick. Any time that you want to get involved in this festival, and any time you need anything from this festival, we’re all here for you,” Speno told his family. “To lose him was just a tough thing. I looked up to him. He made this festival what it is today and to have a chance to work with him was really exciting for me.”
There has been talk among association board members of a more permanent way to honor Nicholls, such as a scholarship or a physical memorial.
“We’ve had some discussions, but nothing’s been solidified,” said John Zekanoski, last year’s festival president. “Our plan is to have a more meaningful ceremony at our annual dinner in January – the idea being that Dick was much more well-known to the local community and the association than our patrons. Despite his importance to the organization, he was one of the guys in the background.”
