A long time political figure in the Coachella Valley died Friday.
Barry Nestande was the Chief of Staff for Supervisor John Benoit, who died suddenly Friday afternoon.
He was also the brother of 64th District State Assemblyman Brian Nestande.
One of his closest friends, Supervisor John Benoit spoke to KPSP Saturday and talked about his last hours with Nestande.
Barry Nestande served on Benoit's staff in the assembly, senate and most recently supervisor's office.
John Benoit said he lost a great friend. After nearly a decade of working along side each other, Benoit added the community has lost a tireless advocate for the Coachella Valley.
"I had left Barry an hour earlier we had gone to lunch at Macarios," said Benoit.
That's how Benoit describes his last hours with Nestande. After lunch Nestande headed over to World Gym in La Quinta, where employees said he was riding a bike when he collapsed. They said cpr was administered right away until the ambulance arrived and rushed him to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio where he died. Benoit added that Nestande was his right hand man.
"We became inseparable, we shared a lot of things we shared our faith in god, faith in country, faith in our ability to try and do what we thought was best for our community working through the political process," added Benoit.
There has been no confirmation on the cause of death, however Benoit said he may have had a heart attack. Benoit adds that Nestande was like a brother to him, a great leader, family man and friend.
"He as taken from us way too young, I'm not the only one, there's going be a lot of people who are going miss Barry Nestande dearly," said Benoit.
Funeral arrangements are still being made.
Nestande is survived by his wife, Merrilee and two sons, Tyson and Brett.
