2 minute read
Felix Spinelli
Felix
SPINELLI
Felix Spinelli was away and out of service on a volunteer project with Eagle Mount when the 24 over 64 Prime Award winners were announced. When he returned from the Hyalite Reservoir area his cell phone “was going nuts” with people congratulating him. “It was a nice surprise,” he said. It’s not particularly surprising though that Spinelli was out doing the very thing that he was recognized for. Since moving to Bozeman ten years ago with his wife and adult special needs daughter from Virginia, Spinelli has been a fixture with the community’s non-profits. His daughter became involved with the therapeutic horseback riding Eagle Mount offers, and as a result Spinelli became immersed in their programs as well in a volunteer capacity. “Once you get involved with Eagle Mount it’s such a great program and great people, he said. “It makes their life really valuable.” Spinelli has also coached athletes in various sports for Special Olympics Montana. In addition to his work supporting the special needs community, Spinelli also is president of the non-profit Friends of the Story Mansion, which aims to help preserve the historic building and find new community uses for it. “It’s important because it’s a marker in time and if you knocked it down and put up townhouses we’re all going to live in the same environment, and we’re going to lose our uniqueness in Bozeman.” The group works with other organizations to put together events on the property, such as this month’s Story Under the Stars, an annual movie screening co-hosted by the Bozeman Film Society. Spinelli also said he makes a point to try and bring in tours with children, as it gives them an opportunity to see a piece of history and step back in time. “I want them to imagine what it was like to live a hundred and something years ago,” he said. “When the kids come in there and I say, ‘how would you like to sleep here?’ Their eyes pop out.’” Friends of the Story Mansion is currently working on restoring and repurposing the second and third floor of the building. Ideas for how to utilize the space have included educational, social and cultural uses. As a retired agriculture economist, Spinelli has been president of the local National Active and Retired Federal Employees group, which regularly meets and brings in speaker to discuss public issues and the government’s role. Spinelli said his career with the government has prepared him for the volunteer work he now is a part of. “It’s part of public service I think and I was a public servant, so it’s a natural extension.”
