By Dan Moffett
SOUTH PALM BEACH — Craig Henne had no shortage of job descriptions in his life. He was an arborist, an actor, a stand-up comedian, tattoo artist, semipro poker player, car salesman, repo man, truck driver, moving company owner, Tesla and motorcycle advocate, political analyst, podcaster and radio talk show host.
Around South Palm Beach, he was known as the guy who rose during the Town Council’s public comment period to call out officials. He commented frequently on what he called excess government spending and questionable judgment of elected leaders. He also expressed support for law enforcement.
Often, he got loud and he got angry.
“Because he was larger than life, sometimes maybe some people didn’t always appreciate it,” said his partner, Phillis Febbraro. “He was a renaissance man with many gifts.”
Craig R. Henne died on Dec. 2 at the age of 72. Plans to hold a service to celebrate his life are incomplete.
Mr. Henne and Ms. Febbraro were high school sweethearts in Long Island in the 1960s, and they reconnected 12 years ago. “He looked for me for 38 years,” she said.
They enjoyed traveling together throughout the country and were committed to participating in their local government during the last decade.
“He was interested in maintaining the small, quaint seaside community with wonderful people,” she said of his activism.
“Craig’s bark was often worse than his bite,” said Mayor Bonnie Fischer. “But in his heart of hearts, he cared about the town. I wish more people cared as much.”
Mr. Henne, originally from Bayville, New York, was a U.S. Air Force veteran. As an actor he had brushes with some of Hollywood’s brightest stars. He had a small role in Robert De Niro’s 1991 movie Cape Fear, an appearance in television’s Miami Vice with Don Johnson and a bit part in the Burt Reynolds TV series B.L. Stryker in 1990.
As a talk show host, he relied on his storytelling talent to make the case for conservative politics.
“For 90 percent of my life I have been fortunate to live the way I wanted,” he told visitors to his Facebook page. “I have no expensive habits but live the life of a Jack London character.”
Besides Ms. Febbraro, Mr. Henne is survived by his daughter Tara; son Jason and his wife, Carman; daughter Nicole and her husband, Michael; son Brant and his wife, Jade, and three grandchildren.
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