From Tributes to Impersonations, Mill Valley Parks Guru Rick Misuraca Gets a Rousing Sendoff

In a ceremony that veered from heartwarming and sincere to comical and seriously quirky, the Mill Valley City Council’s public farewell to retired parks guru Rick Misuraca was a true reflection of his 30 years of service and his incredibly broad impact on the tangible elements of the city.

Mayor Andy Berman set the tone at the beginning of the meeting.

“I’ve got a second proclamation to read – that nobody knows about,” he announced following the official honor Monday night. Dressed up as Misuraca with a ponytailed wig and fake beard and mustache, his poem An Ode to Rick parodied ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. It included gems like “Who will take care of the steps lanes and paths? Will the community garden be able to last? (watch it here starting around minute 16).

In addition to the actual proclamation (attached at right), the City Council presented Misuraca with Skip Sandberg’s Steps Lanes & Paths book signed by all councilmembers, along with a matted collage full of images of many of his accomplishments around town that residents were welcome to sign.

"I'm overwhelmed," Misuraca said.

He also had a confession to make.

“You know, just to be honest, I did it all because it’s fun,” he said. “I have fun at this stuff. I have fun pulling weeds.”

From the infrastructure of the city’s parks and an array of  to restoring the mill at Old Mill Park, creating benches, signs and bridges from fallen redwood trees, Misuraca's fingerprints are part of the fabric of Mill Valley.

The April 1 meeting marked the one-month anniversary of his retirement but Misuraca, 55, has been busy with a road trip to Utah and is then off to Belize later this month.

"But there’s been a couple of those low periods where I’ve got, like, nothing going on" he said. "It's sort of that glimpse of what retireiment could be. And I’m kind of liking it!"

But he also can't imagine a life where he’s not somehow involved with Mill Valley.

“It’s my hometown,” he said. “Working with city staff and the citizens of this town – it’s like family. It’s an extension of me.”

And it’s clear many residents in the city feel the same way about him. From the Boy Scouts to a local kindergarten teacher whose class he visited, they thanked Misuraca for the mark he has left.

Mill Valley Little League administrator Ned White presented him with a handmade eucalyptus bat signed by the Little League board. Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Daniel Escalzo thanked him for handing over the key for the tree lighting ceremony during Winterfest.

“I will always remember you when I see that little key,” he said. “Unless you want it back.”

Dede Sabbag of Bloomathon talked about how much Misuraca contributed to the beautification of the city.

“He’s kept us going through the years to the point where he has the guys fluff the beds for us so we can plant the bulbs,” she said.

Betsy Bikle of the Mill Valley StreamKeepers, Rich Robbins of Friends of Fields, and countless others expressed their gratitude. Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Joan Murray got choked up as she said he has left “mythic” shoes to fill.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” she said. “You leave a big hole.”

Misuraca, in turn, thanked his wife Sandy for the number of times she’s woken up with him at 4:45 a.m as he’s getting ready for work, for putting up with dirt and grass clippings throughout the house and for her understanding during those midnight tree calls.

“Do you have any idea what a pocketful of chainsaw chips does to the laundry?” he asked. “She’s there making all of that work, so that I can be here making all of this work, so we owe her a thanks too.”

Many applauded Misuraca for his wonderful sense of humor, the way he leads with passion and fun, and his ability to provide clear and purposeful guidance in many areas that are important to the city.

Steps, Lanes and Paths advocate Victoria Talkington remarked that one of Misuraca’s favorite sayings is 'doesn’t matter, don’t care.'

“The other half of it is you know what does matter and you care immensely about it,” she said. “You can sift through the pettiness of daily complaints and details and really figure out what’s important.”

Maureen Parton, a former planning commissioner and current aide to Supervisor Kate Sears, said we may forget what people say, but not how they make your feel and Misuraca – with his broad smile and can-do attitude – will be remembered.

“Future generations will be able to look around and see the beautiful environment you helped create,” she said. “They may not know who you are but they will feel the deep imprint you left on this town. Your legacy is that we have to carry on the good work that you have started.”

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