Street Roots is working with family and friends and will be announcing the time and date of a memorial service in the coming days. Please check back. (Many thanks to customers and Trader Joe's for making a memorial on site.)
Remembering Roger
Roger Gates captured the hearts and minds of Portland's Northwest neighborhood where he sold the paper for seven years. In the two days leading up to Street Roots finding out about his death, nearly a dozen customers called the office asking where Roger was. He was loved.
According to the medical examiner and Roger's family, he died peacefully of natural causes watching television. We would like to think that Roger passed watching a 6-4-3 double play, or possibly a two-out single that drove in a runner, keeping the inning alive. He had turned 60 years old in early July.
Roger was a true believer. He believed in people - from his fellow vendors to his customers to the staff at Trader Joe's at NW 21st and Glisan. He rarely had a bad thing to say, but when he did, people listened. He was rough around the edges, but a gentle and well-articulated man. He was a natural leader.
More than anything Roger believed in the idea that all people were good, and that a higher power would forgive us all - regardless of whatever mess we might find ourselves in.
He wrote beautiful poetry, he attended vendor meetings encouraging people to take the roles and responsibilities of being a vendor seriously. "We had a message to deliver," he would say. "We are the working poor. We should be proud of ourselves. Proud of Street Roots, and proud of the work we do."
In many ways he had become the face of Street Roots. From helping create the vendor orientation video to speaking with students and journalists, Roger was always willing to communicate with individuals the mission of Street Roots. Like many of us - he lived and breathed the newspaper. It was his life for many years.
Of course, there's more to Roger's life than Street Roots. From the staff at the Joyce Hotel where he paid for a room night in and night out to his family and friends - Roger was one of a kind.
He was an avid baseball fan. Roger had studied the game. We often discussed the idea that baseball more than any other game mirrored life. It was a game of patience and persistency. Sometimes nothing would happen until late in the game, other times the game peeked early and never rose to that level of intensity again. One week you might be on a roll, unstoppable. The next week you might find yourself in a slump, unable to put one foot in front of the other. Trying to find that space in your mind and body that would allow you to deliver the best we all have.
Roger always gave his best. And he taught everyone around him to give there best. He was a big brother, a mentor, a friend and an anchor in the community.
Roger will always remain in the hearts and minds of the people that lived and worked in Northwest Portland in the early part of the 21st century. He will be remembered. He will be missed. "God bless you and all of your loved ones."
- Director, Israel Bayer
Roger one of my favorite colleagues and a spiritual man, friendly and encouraging. I always looked forward to seeing him. Everywhere I go people tell me they buy the paper from Roger Gates at Trader Joe's with a smile on their face. He was a great friend. He was like my big brother. He always told me that anytime I needed something, he would help me. I have a special prayer for him in my heart.
- Vendor, Vicki Sittinghawk
No matter what circumstances had dealt him that day, Roger new the power of a big smile and a warm greeting - and he was generous with both - every morning, without fail. He enjoyed people, and I think that's why he enjoyed vending the paper so much. His customers were his friends, and he loved to share his poetry with them. I still have an old brown paper bag with six of his poems written on it.
- Managing Editor, Joanne Zuhl
Never fail, seven days a week, you could find Roger at the Street Roots office just before 8am. Each morning he left with 25, 30, or 40 papers; those were the increments he purchased, never more, never less. Fourth and Davis is where you would find him next, waiting for the 17-Montgomery Park bus to take him to Trader Joe's- his one and only vending location. He will be missed by all his customers, co-workers, and neighbors. I will miss him.
- Resource Specialist/Office Manager, Eddy Barbosa
Roger Gates was a model vendor. He worked hard at it and it showed. We at Street Roots were blessed to have him with us. He was a true professional. With a quick smile that you knew he meant. We will truly miss him.
- Vendor Coordinator, Art Garcia
Photo by Miyuki Sese