On Friday House members recalled former Republican Rep. Eric Youngberg, who died this week.

Youngberg, 42, served 2003 through the end of 2008 in the House. A low-profile lawmaker with a puckish sense of humor, Youngberg never really spent much time in front of the media. But for an important few weeks in 2005, he served as the co-chairman, with House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, of the House Impeachment Committee. At the time, the House was deliberating whether to write articles of impeachment against then-state Treasurer Robert Vigil.

But it wasn’t Youngberg’s legislative accomplishments that his former colleagues recalled Friday. It was his humor, the radiant smile that was always on his face and his genuine niceness.

“I’ll try not to cry too much,” said Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, who was friends with Youngberg before the two came to the legislature. “He was a true friend and will be truly missed,” Park said, getting emotional.

“He was a close friend of mine,” added House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants.

Martinez, Park and Youngberg were part of a small close-knit, bunch of Republican and Democratic lawmakers who served on the House Judiciary Committee.

“He was wicked smart and wicked funny, and he was fun to be around,” Martinez recalled.

Then Martinez launched into a story that illustrated both Youngberg’s sense of humor and his frugality.

Martinez recalled traveling to Taos for a legislative meeting one year. Shortly after arriving in the evening, he was approached by colleagues about going out for drinks. Martinez said he was tired and declined.

Later that night, one of the hotel staff knocked at his door. Opening it, he found a maid with a rollaway bed, which she began to dutifully roll in.

“I said, ‘What are you doing?’ Martinez recalled, informing the maid that he hadn’t ordered any bed.  Mr. Youngberg did, she responded.

“He showed up five minutes after the bed,” Martinez said. “And he fell asleep before me. Which meant I couldn’t fall asleep because he was snoring. That was pure Eric.”

Others spoke of how a lawmaker’s death casts ripples far and wide across the “big family” that is the House.

“My heart is just broken over this loss, said Rep. Candy Spence Ezell, R-Roswell. “We are a big family.”

Then Spence Ezell launched into a story about Youngberg, who went out to her ranch once “because he wanted to see if I was what I said I was, a rancher.”

Youngberg proceeded to pet bulls grazing on the ranch, which were not out there “to be petted,” Spence Ezell said. “He was a great prankster. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. We are all going to miss him.”

As much as lawmakers recalled Youngberg’s sense of humor, it was his genuine niceness that many focused on.

“I remember him because he was such a nice individual,” Rep. Nick Salazar, D-Ohkay Owingeh, said to the chamber. “Most of all I remember his smile. He always had a beautiful smile for everyone.”

Added House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, “I don’t think that I had any kind of a cross word with Rep. Youngberg.”

House Republican Leaders also blogged on Youngberg’s passing.

“While he served in the Legislature he focused his intelligence and candor on fighting for the issues that seemed closest to his heart,” said House Republican Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington.  “The wide circle of people he affected includes not just family and friends, but his colleagues across the aisle.  We will miss him,” said House Republican Leader Tom Taylor.

Added House Minority Whip Keith Gardner, R-Roswell: “His passing is a reminder of the sad truth that even the boldest-lead lives can slip away with little notice.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were closest to Eric.  May they take solace in the knowledge that he accomplished much during his brief life and did so with warmth and character.”

Gardner announced that Youngberg’s funeral is set for 2 pm Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque.