After Tuesday’s Nevada County Quorum Court meeting, several members of the county’s leadership spoke about the loss of County Treasurer Ricky Reyenga, which was announced the day before. He passed away at his home at the age of 63 after long years of service to the county. 

Mike Otwell, County Judge said “I’m going to tell you something. We're going to miss him. They just don't realize how much he was to the courthouse. [If] absolutely anybody in this courthouse had a problem at any office, Ricky had an answer, because he served in every room.  If they needed to call Ricky, he'd peel into it. Never griping. If he was griping, you knew he was in a good mood. He loved this county.” 

He also loved to treat the kids who came to the courthouse with beverages and candy, Otwell said. “We’ve had about ten kids around there, he would be pulling money out of his pocket for the vending machines and let those kids pick what they want.” 

County Clerk Tammie Rose said, “The halls of this courthouse will never be the same. He is like a fixture around here.” 

Justice of the Peace Patricia Grimes said, gesturing to Eighth District North Prosecutor and Nevada County Attorney Ben Hale said, “I’ll tell you somebody that’s going to miss Ricky is his little girl.” Grimes joked that at times on the golf course the hypercompetitive Reyenga was frustrating, but that these were still fun times Grimes shared with he and his wife, Cynthia Reyenga. 

Grimes said Reyenga was great with nicknames, calling her Queen Patitah.  But his set of skills will also be missed. “He wasn't treasurer long, but he's been up here for years working, and he worked in different offices. I worked in all these different offices at one time, and he worked on computers. He knew how to do all those computers, and that's what's going to be missed.” 

“He's one of my best friends,” Ben Hale said. “And he was like a father for me. I mean, I spent more time with Ricky growing up, probably than anybody in Nevada County out on the golf course. I think he had a big heart. I think he cared about his community. I think he did a lot of things that a lot of people don't know about. He was in a lot of pain, had a lot of health issues for a long time, so he's in a better place.” 

At the suggestion Reyenga was a mentor to him, Hale said with a chuckle  “He was a few other things, too.” 

The Nevada County Courthouse will close tomorrow (Thursday) at 1:00 p.m. to allow its staff to attend Reyenga's funeral.