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Robert Hansen, 1951—2010
Robert Hansen was known and loved by many people: as a Real Change vendor, as an activist, and as a friend. He helped others by standing up for what he believed in, by mentoring others, and in countless small personal ways like petting a customer’s dog while she was shopping.
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Janice Hibbert, 1942—1996
Words by Michele Marchand Originally published in Real Change June 1996 Janice Hibbert, friend to WHEEL, Noel House, and Church of Mary Magdalene, died on April 5th [1996] after a short but intense struggle with breast cancer. She will be sorely missed. Janice began working with WHEEL (Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhancement League) last fall during the planning process for the Homeless Women’s Forum. She was homeless herself; had taken leadership at one of our self-managed shelters, and was committed to finding ways to destigmatize homelessness for her sisters at the same time she worked on finding herself a job. She’d been a registered nurse most of her adult life,…
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Margaret Jackson, 1953—1994
Beloved longterm member of Noel House, Angelines and DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center). Margaret Jackson: A Woman of Will by Margaret King First printed in the premiere issue of Real Change, September 1994 Margaret Jackson died in March of this year after struggling with many health problems, primarily advanced lung disease. The last six weeks of her life were a grueling physical and emotional struggle for Margaret, entailing a revolving door of hospitalization and uncountable amounts of medication. Given her awesome strength of will (which all who knew her were familiar with) she fought hard to overcome what ailed her. But she told me many times in those weeks that…
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Michelle Jackson, 1970—2009
Michelle’s leaf is placed at Angeline’s. If you have photos or memories of Michelle, please post a comment.
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Sharon Kilgore, 1959—2010
According to her friend Janna, Sharon Kilgore had a very difficult life, with many difficult things surrounding her. She did her best in an often impossible situation. In spite of all the odds against her, she kept a sense of humor, black as it may have been. In a video Public Service Announcement for the Church of Mary Magdalene, Sharon spoke up to solicit donations of brassieres for their “Ministry of the Lingerie:” “You never know when you might have to go to a funeral, baby,” she said, and then laughed her beautiful laugh. She used to call all of us younger women, “baby girl.” She was a tough mom figure to…
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Robert Kotopka, 1942—2004
Robert Kotopka’s Leaf is placed at the Seattle Justice Center. If you have stories or memories to share about Robert please post a comment.
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Brandi Lambert, 1974—2010
Brandi was a member of Mary’s Place, Matt Talbot Center, and Angelines, and she had many friends at Noel House. She was loved by many people. Leaf Location: Noel House
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Dinah Lane, 1951—2005
THE SEA OUTSIDE The rise in suicides in King County’s Homeless Community by Michele Marchand; originally published in Real Change in 2005 On the streets, where last names are seldom important or even known, Dinah Lane was often called Dinah Shore. Although both these Dinahs had strawberry blond hair and amazing smiles, you couldn’t imagine someone less like the sunny 1950s television hostess and singer than Dinah Lane. She was a homeless activist, a striver for justice, and was always reading thick tomes from the Public Library. She engaged for hours in intense, thoughtful conversation about the government, systems and conspiracies.
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Robin Langston, 1972—2000
Robin Langston was strangled to death in the alley off Third Avenue and Blanchard Friday, September 15, 2000 at 4 a.m. Late in the afternoon that day I walked down the alley, just after I’d gone to a police briefing about the murder.
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Ella Lewis, 1947—2009
. Ella’s leaf is placed at Angeline’s. If you have memories or photos of Ella, please post a comment to share them.
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Michael Lindsay, 1958—2009
Michael died October 9th 2009 at 6th and James, hit-and-run. His dog Bear died with him. Requestor: “He was a nice guy. He didn’t deserve to die in the manner that he did. Mike was the brother of a very good friend, Vern Lindsay. Mike was a fun-loving guy who enjoyed life to its fullest. He loved life, family, and friends. He was trying to get his life back together.” Michael’s Leaf is installed at the Seattle Justice Center. A Leaf for Bear lies next to his, and a Leaf for brother Vern, who died in 2013. If you have stories or memories to share about Michael, please post in…
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Bokary Loum, 1960—2006
Bokary’s leaf is placed at the Family & Adult Service Center. If you have memories or photos of Bokary, please post them in Comments.
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Jose Marcos Lucio, 1962—1999
Words by Mona Joyner: “Jose Lucio was a very honest and dedicated worker through the Millionaire Club. He never missed work and he always volunteered for more. He had many friends and was well known in the streets in and around Seattle. It was with these friends whom he was fighting and when someone pushed him from the I-5 and Mercer Street overpass in Seattle. These same friends that he would drink with after a hard day’s work, also fought and killed him.
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Tonya “Sonshine” Smith, 1968—2006
Tonya’s leaf is placed at Angeline’s. If you have photos or memories of Tonya, please post a comment.
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Verna Maxwell, 1933—2001
Saying Goodbye to Verna Maxwell by Michele Marchand Originally published in Real Change November 15-28, 2001 Of all the things I did and all the things I said Let no one try to find out who I was An obstacle was there transforming The actions and the manner of my life An obstacle was often there To silence me when I began to speak -from “Hidden Things” by Constantine Cavafy During a recent renovation, Noel House shelter lost its archives. The archives, carefully prepared by a former staffperson, are contained in a simple scrapbook of photographs and clippings dating back to the shelter’s beginning. Its loss is unfortunate, since many…
