I was in comms with his partner Meri earlier this AM. As more than a few folks I know (who knew him better than I did), they definitely broke the mold after they made him!
the first time I met him, some 6 years ago, was (for me), emblematic of who Monte was: he was waiting for me in a parking lot, swinging a short rope (maybe 6 feet long?) with a decent sized hunting kife attached to the end...