Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2011)
OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE i TRANSITIONS In Remembrance of Kevin Grant Peppel July 2 6 ,1972-September 13,2011 Kevin played softball in the Rose City Softball Association for three years with me on the Redwings. He was loved and adored by many. His big smile and even bigger laugh were infectious. I will miss that and his loud “ W hooo” and his way o f saying, “Hey, girl.” He also had his own cleaning and handy man business, and he was amazing at both. Kevin loved his family, friends, his dog and his bike. I am going to miss him, a lot. You’re at peace now, Kevy! Enjoy! — Tim Bias Richard Kneller Ludt May 11 ,1965-October 10,2011 Richard “Ricardo” Ludt was born Ricky Kneller to Richard and Patricia (Arkell) Kneller at Weir M aternity Hospital in C en tral London on May 11,1965. His father was a British rock ‘n roll singer known as Dickie Pride— “the Sheik of Shake.” A t the height o f Dickie Pride’s career, in 1960, the Beatles (then called the Silver Beatles) were slated to be his backup band for a U.K. tour, but Dick ie’s manager Larry Parnes decided against this. Although Dickie was chosen to be the supporting act for a Stevie W onder tour in 1966, his career had been spiraling downward due to mental illness and drug abuse. A lo- transitions&letters botomy followed, and he died o f a sleeping pill overdose in 1969. Shortly after Dickie’s death, Patricia met and married Rudolph Ludt, who legally ad opted Ricky, and the family moved to New York—where his sister Michelle was born— and later, Colorado, where Richard— the “awesome brother and ringleader o f trouble”— spent most his youth. After graduating from high school, he traveled extensively through out Europe, and fell in love with and in Spain, where he lived for several years. Returning to the United States, he worked with his beloved grandm other Stella Arkell at her English tea shop in La Jolla, Califor nia. At the urging of his best friend Cathie Joy Young, he moved to Portland in 1992, where he worked at Caffe M ingo and Zefiro restaurants, among others. He graduated from the Oregon School of Massage and estab lished his own very successful practice, Spirit Body Massage, and was beloved by his clients for his healing abilities. D uring the brief period o f time when gay marriage was legal in M ultnom ah County, Richard married Thate’(Tate) O ’Shaughnessy in 2004. Like his father, he loved to perform , and dived into flamenco, belly dancing, piano/ guitar/accordion playing, and singing with a fervor. He had an incredible sense o f humor, and loved the theatrics o f creating voices and characters, such as the homeless caped superhero Dangerous D an, W olver ine, Jesus on the cross and a grass skirt and hat-w earing witch doctor with no under wear. N ot surprisingly, his favorite holiday was Halloween. OCTOBER 21. 2011 fr Richard jumped off the Fremont Bridge on October 10, 2011, after months o f severe depression. He is predeceased by his father, by his adoptive father Rudy, and his beloved grandm other Stella. He is survived by his sis ter Michelle Ludt o f Denver, his mother Tri- cia Browner and stepfather Philip Browner, and numerous aunts and uncles and cousins. He is also survived by his ex-husband Thate’ (Tate) O ’Shaughnessy and hundreds and hundreds o f friends. There will be a celebration of Richard’s life with his family and friends on Sunday, October 30 at noon in the atrium of Wieden+Kennedy (224 N W 13th Ave.). Remembrances or do nations can be made in Richard’s name to Q_ Center (pdxqcenter.org) or The Trevor Project (thetrevorproject.org). 5 Original letter reguarding the Portland Luggage ad in JO's August 5 issue: “...I'm angered and disgusted by the Port land Luggage ad on page 7 - the one that opens with "Nobody likes an OLD Bag/" accompanied by a photo of a scowling grey-haired woman wearing glasses (who appears to be anywhere from 55 to 95 years old). For the store, there’s no excuse - you folks obviously think your ad is funny and compelling. One result of your bad judgment, bad taste and bad attitude, however, is that I (a customer for al most 16 years who has bought a variety of excel lent products at the downtown store and happily referred other shoppers) won t be buying luggage from you anymore + will be telling my friends about this - angrily. I'm guessing you don't care, given your use of this ageist/sexist ad copy but I do want you to know. ...JO should not be accepting ads that delib erately offend/insult any of us (eg. Old Lesbians Organizing for Change) - or anybody else, for that matter (except maybe well-known bad guys; it's probably ok to insult people who are vicious, vio lent queer-haters).. . " LETTERS An Ad(d) About Acceptance To: Gregg Simon, Portland Luggage Company, cc: Marty Davis, Just Out D ear M r . S im o n , Thank you for your willingness to withdraw the ad and your explanation o f the rationale behind it [“Letters” dated Sept. 16, in response to Vol. 28, No. 19, Sept. 2, Page 3, “Putting the A d ’In Adverse”]. We as an organization did not write the letter to the editor [quoted in Page 3] nor did we au thorize it as a statement from our group. How ever, we do not disagree with the letter writer’s point of view. We are concerned about ageism in general and specifically the images of old women in the media. We seek to promote positive im ages of old women as vibrant, productive and contributing members o f our society, as opposed to “old” models who are either ignored, scorned or are considered to be inferior to the “new.” It seems to us that if we really value ac ceptance and tolerance we would extend it beyond issues o f skin color, gender identity, sexual orientation and physical disability and also reject negative comments about age and physical appearance. We appreciate your commitment to adver tise in Just Out. We only ask that the humor not reinforce negative images o f old people or be at the expense o f people who do not fit the “Madison Avenue” image. Sincerely, Mary Beth Brindley, Old Lesbians Organizing fo r Change Portland “When Open-Minded People Close Their Minds—Portland’s Hypocrisy” T o T he E d ito r : Let me begin by stating who I am. I’m an atheist. A liberal. A true Portlandite. One who proudly speaks o f Portland because o f the ap preciation I have for one another’s differences. I- FANNO CREEK C L I N I C STiRS PORTLAND'S ANTIQUES MALLS Portland's largest selectionof antiques, collectibles & extraordinary items. OPEN EVERYDAY: Mon.-Sat. lla m -6 p m & Sunday Noon-5 www.starsantique.com Along SE Milwaukie Ave. in Portland • (503) 235-5990 Don Valerio, MD Board Certified Internal Medicine General Adult Healthcare Wellness/Physical Exams Preventive Medicine New Patients are always Welcome! 2400 SW Vermont St. Portland 503.452.0915
