Today there was a major accident on US 287 in Lafayette. I happened to be working nearby at Starbucks. I didn't see the accident but noticed the ambulance, police cars and that that blocked traffic from South Boulder Rd to Baseline.I went on-line to read about it tonight and read it was a result of a driver running off the road and hitting a pedestrian. (Some anonymous person scolded me when I wrote 'drunk driver' which was in the article I read. So will remove that until confirmed.) The pedestrian was a locale fixture - John Breaux. John actually is a hero. He was always seen picking up cans along the road and greeted everyone with a warm smile. Everyone knew and loved him. (If you have time to read the comments you can see an example of how the communities of Lafayette/Louisville loved him.) Just yesterday, I was driving along another part of 287 and saw John picking up cans.
When I read that he had died I just cried. It was tragic anyway but even more so to read that he was him because he had such a gentle spirit. Reading the comments, I see some called him "Jesus" because he had a beard and maybe also because he was Christ-like in how he served the community whether opening doors for everyone at a local coffee shop or just with his warm smile. I didn't know much about John but see in the comments that he attended Flatirons church.
I am sure Boulder County will have a memorial for John and wonder if a day of picking up cans/trash and greeting others with kindness might be a good way to remember him. Maybe more than just a day.
May you rest in peace John. Our community has a huge hole in our heart.
11 comments:
he was a wonderful person... thank you for posting this...
Quite the loss. (:-( We miss John already.
A photo tribute to John:
http://flickr.com/photos/18767293@N00/sets/72157613142827051/
(I wish I'd taken the time, made the effort to get some better pics of John; alas, some of these are taken from a moving bike - but they tell the story.)
John was the heart of Louisville. He will be so missed. I think we all must take the time to do the kind things that he did for us. Say a few kind words. Pick up trash when we see it. Keep his spirit alive.
I just looked at the pics and those are wonderful... they show you what John did the best. I miss him even though I barely knew him.
So sad how bad things happen to good people. Our town(s) mascot will ALWAYS be remembered. RIP.
More photos and updates here:
http://www.coloradohometownnews.com/index-lafayette.asp
http://www.coloradohometownnews.com/blog
John will be missed.
John was a very kind, caring person, who touched many of our lives. Many a time I saw him helping those who needed an extra hand. Next time you see a can, bottle or a bit of trash around town, pick it up instead of walking by and think of John. We'll miss him dearly
thanks for your post Andy. We all feel the same way
Thanks Andy. John was and is loved by so many people. I had no idea how many people's hearts he had touched until I attended the tribute held in Albertson's parking lot on Saturday. I guess I had a "clue" though. At one of the Louisville events last year I saw John sitting along the sidewalk and greeted him warmly. My friend with me also greeted John at which time a stranger standing close by commented "Seems like EVERYBODY knows you!". Closer to the truth than I realized at the time.
We don't know why you had to go now John, but you will be missed and remembered.
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