I was pretty shocked to hear about the passing of Mayor Wally Nichols this weekend. Despite knowing about his health issued and hearing about his unfortunate fall earlier in the week, he’s the kind of guy you just assume will always be there.

I’ve only lived in Fountain Hills about a decade, but Wally was one of the first people I met back in 2005. He left quite the impact on me, too. There’s no more elegant way to say it: He was just a really, really nice guy. He welcomed me to Fountain Hills with open arms and made sure I knew I could call on him if I ever needed anything.

At public events, he always found his way over to me to see how I was doing and wish me well.

Based on the letters we’re already receiving and the buzz around town, I’m not surprised to hear that Mayor Wally had the exact same impact on the lives of pretty much everyone he met.

In that way, my comment earlier about him no longer being here doesn’t really apply. He did a tremendous amount of good for this town and its residents. While Mayor Wall may have passed from this life, his kindness, generosity and tireless efforts will linger. So long as there is a Fountain Hills, Mayor Wally’s legacy will live on.

And with that, I’m going to share a couple of stories that I think help illustrate the kind of guy Mayor Wally was.

It was my first or second year in town, and Jenn and I were attending a fundraiser for the local schools.

I felt a little uncomfortable when I found out I was sitting next to the mayor and his wife, Sheila. I guess I thought it would have made more sense for the mayor to sit next to someone who, you know, actually mattered. I was there to cover the event, after all, while everyone else was there to support education through their deeds, time and donations.

Well it turns out that, to Wally, everyone “actually mattered.” He and Sheila chatted us up through dinner and into the evening as if we were old friends. Eventually, a group of puppies were brought through the crowd, all up for adoption. Wally had just told us about his pooch back home – Xena, Warrior Princess, if I remember correctly – when something drew my attention away from the table.

The next thing I know, I’m hearing, “Don’t kiss that dog, it’s not yours.”

I turned back to the table to see Mayor Wally holding one of the puppies that was being led through the room and, sure enough, he had given it a little smooch on top of the head.

There was our Mayor, unashamed to show some unbridled affection in a room full of people in fancy suits and dresses.

The last time I saw Mayor Wally was at another fundraising event, this one only a couple of weeks ago and for the local branch of the Boys & Girls Club.

Wally’s eyes lit up when he saw me and he waved me over from across the room. Before I could even open my mouth to ask how he was doing, he wanted to know all about my new job, how the deadlines were treating me, etc.

He was genuinely interested and wanted to make sure I was getting along okay.

From the first time I met him to the last time I saw him, Mayor Wally never ceased to impress me. He was just a fantastic guy.