Saw Gov. Tim Walz this morning at my husband's memorial.
My husband of 53 years, Phil Castrovinci, died on May 18th of Congestive Heart Failure, coupled with Type II Diabetes, resulting in organ failure.
But he and Tim Walz go way back to late January or early February 2005 when they attended Camp Wellstone together over in St. Paul. Tim had not yet decided to run for Congress and was getting acquainted as to how to start the process. My husband had been involved in Minnesota Politics at the grass roots level since the 2000 election. We both were.
Since that initial meeting, my husband began helping Tim with things, as well as his decision to retire from the Army National Guard. Tim was still teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School at the time. When he did file with the FEC, he announced his official decision and we drove over to Mankato to witness it. We were on his team from the very start. We began to form a good friendship with him and Gwen.
The rest is history as we worked on every Congressional campaign, went to many events for him in the 1st CD, held fundraisers, even on the 2018 Governor's race. 2022 was when we moved from Southeast Minnesota to Eden Prairie.
On Monday, I reached out to Gwen and she responded right away. She was not sure if she and Tim could make the time to come to my husband's Celebration of Life, but they did. Not as Governor and First Lady of the State, but as dear friends who was mourning the loss of a friend along with me. Both Tim and Gwen gave me big hugs. He let me know that Keith Ellison knew(he and Phil were dear friends), Ken Martin (DNC Chair), and others in the Administration knew also. Phil knew many in St. Paul. Tim and Gwen stayed for a bit before having to leave, as to not draw attention away from the main purpose of the event.
I was consoled and told, "We will be in touch."
Tim Walz would have made an awesome VP. But still at the helm of Minnesota, he will remain a dear and close personal friend for the rest of my life anyway. My son did not know his dad and I knew personally the man who would not only be our Congressman for 12 years, but our Governor for almost 8.
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Very nice Tim & Gwen were there to comfort you. 
-as your story shows, your husband made a real difference in his all-too-short life.
What a nice group of friends you both have. You have more here.
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