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Rockford Remembers Its Lost Homeless On The Year's Longest Night

Susan Stephens
/
WNIJ
Candles, flowers, angels at the 2016 Memorial For The Homeless in Rockford

It’s the shortest day and the longest night of the year. To advocates in Rockford, the Winter Solstice symbolizes the harshest challenges for the homeless in their city. Wednesday, they held their annual memorial for homeless people who died this year.

Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
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WNIJ
Father David Beauvais delivers his message about caring for the homeless at Carpenter's Place for the annual homeless memorial service.

Richard Reed was there to remember his friend Humberto, who was just 31 when he died in April. He recalled that he was “a good pool shooter, a good friend, a nice and kind person. And I’m thankful that I knew him.”

Humberto was one of 27 people considered homeless who died in Rockford this year. Their friends, family members, and people who knew them through agencies that assist the homeless gathered at Carpenter’s Place for a service in their honor.  Ted Kisner, who chairs the Rock River Homeless Coalition, wants to remind people, “They don’t choose to be homeless. There are life struggles going on. If the community can understand more what’s at the root of homelessness, our community can be a lot better.”

The 27 ranged in age from 31 to 65. As their names and faces flashed up on a screen in the packed room, there were tears and gasps of recognition as the audience showed these 27 were more than statistics. They were friends.

Murmurs of “Ray Ray” and “poor Ray Ray” went up in the room when Raymond Bartosik’s face appeared on screen. “Ray Ray” was 48 and well known in this room. His body was found in September in a tent city south of downtown Rockford. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
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WNIJ
About 100 people attended the 2016 Memorial for the Homeless in Rockford.

Ted Kisner says it’s important for the whole community to remember the people who are struggling. He says the memorial service “is a way to show respect for the lives of these individuals. They are our families, our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers. They were here for a purpose, like we all are. And unfortunately, their lives were cut short.”

These are the first names/last initials and ages of the 27 who were remembered at Wednesday’s ceremony:

  • Victor O.                   53
  • Donald K.                 54
  • Chad C.                      45
  • Jamie M.                   50
  • Reuben A.                 59
  • Steven H.                  52
  • Christopher H.       36
  • Michael H.                54
  • Brent B.                     31
  • Rodney H.                50
  • Humberto B.           31
  • Tracy H.                    49
  • Joseph G.                 38
  • Wade S.                    39
  • James H.                  43
  • Kevin C.                    33
  • Lawrence P.            65
  • Thomas C.               64
  • Jacqueline P.          53
  • Adam M.                   32
  • Mike M.                    54
  • Raymond B.            48
  • Kasib S.                     62
  • Danielle H.               31
  • Cynthia P.                 52
  • Terry F.                     54
  • Rodney D.                55
Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.
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