An elderly man who wore simple clothes with a bright blue and gold macaw riding on top of his shoulder could be seen daily strolling down Linden Street in Caldwell, bending down to pick up trash along the way.
Gary Phillips and his pet bird, Bali, walked to get lunch from McDonald’s, and sometimes made a turn onto Cleveland Boulevard to go to Albertsons in front of the fairgrounds. Bali patiently waited on top of a trash can outside the store and fast-food franchise for Gary to return — they shared this routine together for over 15 years in Caldwell.
But Gary’s passing on Feb. 22 at the age of 70 shocked hundreds of community members who would spot Gary and Bali throughout town. Locals who were lucky to catch the inseparable duo at their usual hangout spots often grabbed a picture with Bali on their arm or shoulder, and shared a brief hello or conversation with Gary…