Ghilarducci: a man of few words in Scottsdale

By Abbie Gripman
For The Enterprise

Former Humboldt Creamery CEO Rich Ghilarducci’s Arizona second home is in the rocky desert hills north of Phoenix. The pale pink stucco tract home sits in a development of other identical homes set on small patches of desert, a front yard of rocks and artfully scattered cactus, a back yard of concrete and water.

These are the smaller, cheaper homes in this resort subdivision dotted with million dollar residences and improbably green golf courses draped across the desert like gaudy blankets. Unlike many of their neighbors, access to this home is not restricted by a guard gate.

According to zillow.com, Ghilarducci’s home value is a modest (for this area) $340,000. The 1,600 square foot home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a swimming pool.

WhenThe Enterprise drove up to the house on Mondaymorning, the sun was blazing — the thermometer on a nearby bank read 89 degrees—and the neighborhood was shuttered and silent save the songs of birds.

Standing at Ghilarducci’s front door, the inside of the house was visible through the open plantation blinds. At least two people were sitting by the pool in the small back yard. A deck chair had a beach towel draped across it. After the doorbell rang, the unidentified people in the back reacted to the sound, standing, with one disappearing into the house.

The other, Ghilarducci, came to the door. He opened it and looked at this reporter with a wary smile. He was wearing a longsleeved white shirt and shorts. He appeared relaxed.

“Mr. Ghilarducci?”

“Yes,” he confirmed.

“My name is Abbie Gripman. I’m here on behalf of The Ferndale Enterprise. May I ask you a few questions?”

He appeared only slightly surprised but still politely smiled as he spoke while beginning to close the door.

“No. I’m not interested in answering any questions,” he said as the door closed.

“The people you’ve left behind in Ferndale would really like to have some answers,” this reporter said to the closing door.

The blinds still open, Ghilarducci walked away through the house.

A few neighbors all said they don’t know the Ghilarduccis and didn’t see them arrive.

Meanwhile, calls and emails by The Enterprise to Ghilarducci’s San Francisco attorney were not returned. Ghilarducci’s Rio Dell home appears to be vacated with only a classic car remaining in his garage. The blinds are undrawn and a telephone answering machine in the kitchen can be seen blinking with the notice of a multitude of messages.