From left: Larry Hanson, Jim Rispoli and Deadra Nail at Rispoli’s celebration of honor in September. Rispoli passed away in November.
By LARRY HANSON
Guest Columnist
I lost a very good friend last week, actually my best friend. Jim Rispoli, owner of the Carmel Corn Cottage in downtown Nashville passed away peacefully Nov. 22, 2022 while in hospice care after a battle with cancer.
Actually, all of Brown County, Indiana and the entire world lost a best friend! Jim was a great Ambassador for Brown County through his shop with customers from all over the world and a long following of tourists who would faithfully seek out his shop when in town.
Jim was one of the first people I met when I moved to Brown County. Before I worked for the Brown County Democrat, I worked for a then sister publication called Travel Indiana, and called on him to sell an ad for his shop.
I sat with Jim on the bench outside his shop and talked with him in between greetings from passersby and the many local folks he knew. Jim never knew a stranger!
At his funeral service Thursday evening, mourners were called upon to describe Jim in one word. The first one that came up was “character.”
Jim’s personality was honed in a large Italian family in Chicago. That should give those that didn’t know him some instant insight into that personality. He was effusive, expressive, engaging, amusing, amiable, caring, irritating, compelling and well, a character.
Customers entering his store were always greeted, usually with corny jokes (in keeping with the corn part of Carmel Corn Cottage). Sometimes he could be a bit like the Seinfeld “Soup Nazi” and gruffly challenge folks lingering too long to make a purchase.
Jim never refused to help anyone that needed it, keeping the morality part of defining character. He was generous with the many nonprofits around town and in the county, donating product, time and money.
His favorite group was the Brown County Lions Club. He served in virtually every position of leadership including president. Needless to say, he was intent on bringing in new members, and most times in his 24 years of membership the Lions District awarded him a pin for recruiting the most members in a year.
But Jim had one passion in his life above the others—dancing. In the times of Disco, Jim knew all the moves, had the white suit, the high shoes, an “afro” and all the bling. He was social director of the biggest singles group in Illinois during that time, and organized disco dances for most every weekend.
In Brown County, Jim was a regular at Mike’s Dance Barn, the Seasons Lodge, and Country Heritage Winery where he rarely left the dance floor. If you were there and sat for too long, Jim would figure out a way to get you up and dancing. He loved to dance.
He was 11 years older than me and would tease me without end if I ever showed signs of fatigue. Our longest lasting argument (yes, we had a couple) was when I once called him an old man. We didn’t speak for what seemed like weeks, though I’m sure it was only a few days.
Jim believed that his secret to life was to always keep moving, and thus why he danced whenever he could. So, it’s easy to see why calling him an old man insulted him. I apologized.
In September, friends of Jim organized a reception for his friends and family after he entered home hospice. There was a great turnout and he got to see many that he hadn’t seen for awhile. I joked that it was the only wake I’d been to while the person was still alive. And I’m glad we did it that way. He truly appreciated it. One regret I have is we left out one thing – dancing!
Jim had asked that the Brown County Lions Club perform the Lions funeral ceremony, which the club did last Thursday evening. At the front of the room by Jim’s urn and portrait was his Lions cap and vest. The vest is still loaded with the bling he earned over the years, including those pins for most new member recruits. After several Lions shared stories about Jim, others did the same, bringing smiles and tears.
To begin the formal funeral service, Elvis Presley sang his recording of Amazing Grace. Pastor Dean noted that this was the first funeral service he’s presided over that started that way, and said it was perfect for Jim Rispoli.
But for me, the tears started flowing when, at the end of the service, a recording of “Save the Last Dance for Me” started playing. Jim’s daughter’s stood up, took their uncle’s hands, and pulled them up to dance. Before you knew it, all the family was up and moving, and then the “mourners” began to join in.
It makes me cry even now, not sad tears, but happy ones knowing that Jim would have loved it. I could visualize Jim dancing his way to heaven, waving at those of us still here, dancing in his honor.
Jim, you left us dancing!
Larry Hanson is the advertising director for the Brown County Democrat.
