In 2017, we lost four Street Roots vendors; tribute planned on Homeless Persons' Memorial Day
Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day happens every year on winter solstice, Dec. 21, the longest night of the year. We take time to remember our friends who we lost in the past year.
DOMICILE UNKNOWN: 80 people died homeless last year in Multnomah County
Any time we lose a vendor, we take the time to honor them, whether it’s through a memorial service at the office, at their longtime sales location or at one of our partner agencies where the person spent time, such as Maybelle Center for Community or St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church. At the services, friends are invited to share a memory or a reflection or to simply light a candle. This Dec. 21, we will set up a table with candles in the office so vendors can reflect on the friends they’ve lost too early to the streets.
In 2017, we lost four Street Roots vendors, three of whom were experiencing homelessness when they died. Each of them brought love, hard work and friendship to Street Roots. And as we remember them, we renew our focus to work as hard as possible to make sure that no person in the richest country in the history of the world should die without a place to call home.
Dennis Sigman
Nov, 8, 1959-May 19, 2017
Dennis slept in the Street Roots doorway the last few months of his life. He was a longtime fixture of Old Town, a frequent guest of Maybelle Center for Community and a friend to all who passed by. Being homeless during Portland’s cruel winter exacerbated health issues.
Barry Mattern
May 31, 1945-Aug. 13, 2017
Old School, as he liked to be called, was a soldier for the Army. Born into a military family, he served in Germany during the Vietnam War. When he moved to Portland, he worked with agencies such as Central City Concern and later Street Roots to give back to his community.
Bill Whicher
Sept. 22, 1956-Aug. 20, 2017
Bill, a New Hampshire native, sold Street Roots on the Portland State University campus every day. He and his fiancee lived in shelters during their time in Portland before he died unexpectedly this summer.
Rudy Madrid
June 3, 1957-Aug. 24, 2017
Rudy was a longtime member of the community at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where he sold Street Roots for many years. He died on the streets over the summer.
