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Visionary Drummer, Advocate for Tribal Fisheries, and Recognized Authority on Bigfoot

Henry Franzoni III 鈥�78

August 21, 2024, in Longview, Washington.

Born in Paris, France, Henry was raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He was a visionary drummer, an accomplished systems developer, an advocate for Pacific Northwest tribal fisheries, and a recognized authority on Bigfoot.

Henry wore “every hat in the data center.” In the 1980s, based in New York City, he was a systems developer for the Switzerland Cheese Association, building a series of computer systems to track the trade of Swiss Cheese between Switzerland and North America. Then, in the 1980s, he moved back to the Pacific Northwest to begin a two-decade career managing data systems in support of fisheries management and the protection and restoration of Columbia basin native fish.

A participant in research studies and a coauthor of reports that culminated in the closing of dams, Henry joked to his friends that his clients were the fish. He also represented Native Americans on the Lower Columbia River Watershed Council, assisting with salmon recovery and restoration projects.

In 1977, Henry founded the group Face Ditch with longtime friend and bassist Fred Chalenor and keyboardist Neil Minturn ’79. Face Ditch pushed the boundaries of music, merging punk, prog rock, and free improvisation into a sound that was uniquely their own, and released eight recordings and performed nationally until 2003. A master of polyrhythmic drumming who blended complex time signatures with an undeniable groove, Henry later went on to form another band, Caveman Shoestore.

Deeply fascinated by the mysterious and unexplained, Henry was an expert on Bigfoot. He contributed to documentaries and wrote two books on the subject (most recently Failing in a Cooler Way: Why I Never Found Bigfoot), but his influence was not confined to his musical prowess or his intellectual pursuits. He was a master storyteller and could captivate friends and acquaintances with his wit and charm.

Henry often amazed friends with his confidence and abilities. Edward Oppenheimer ’79 remembers, “When Henry said ‘I’ll do it,’ in a sense it had already been done,” regardless of the complexity of the task at hand. He will be remembered for his commitment to Columbia River native fisheries, his innovative approach to music, his contributions to understanding Bigfoot, his insatiable curiosity, and his generous spirit.

Henry is survived by his wife, Heidi, and his sisters. Liza and Amanda.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Spring 2026