I can still picture sitting on an outside deck at a Rockford hotel with Gil Feld on a warm spring night a decade ago as we enjoyed a cigar and a few adult beverages and discussed three of the most important things in his life: Motorcycles, muscle cars and a fledgling Quincy Regional Crime Stoppers.

Gil and I were among the original members of the local Crime Stoppers organization when it was formed in February 1997. We were part of a contingent that went to that state conference in Rockford to help prepare for Quincy to host the event the following year.

Gil was one of the good guys, a cop who understood that the ability to use common sense and work with people were just as important as the letter of the law. He was “the face” of Quincy Regional Crime Stoppers for so many years as a member of the Quincy Police Department’s Pro-Act unit, and was a driving force behind the success of Crime Stoppers, which remains the best in the state.

Gil lost his battle with bone marrow cancer Thursday. Retired from the QPD because of his health, he was supposed to be sworn in last night as president of Crime Stoppers. A terrible disease, against which he fought so valiantly, took a good man way too early. We’re all better for having known Gil, and worse now because he is no longer with us.