Bob Arieti, who’s served as chief aide to the City Council since, I’m pretty sure, the Caleb Rice administration, has quietly retired.

On Friday afternoon, Arieti sent an email to city councilors informing them that that was his last day on the job. “It is a personal preference that I leave quietly and without any fanfare, coffee hour, reception, surprise party, etc.,” he wrote.

It’s hard to imagine City Hall without Arieti, who leaves with an impressive institutional memory (and, no doubt, enough material to write a juicy political behind-the-scenes book or two, although, alas, I don’t think that’s his style). I’m grateful for all the times he helped me out with questions and requests for documents and wish him all the best.