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Il!e Ißortlanh (©bseruer
November 14, 2012
Arts
I N
il R
El TAINMENT
E
NTE
A Smile Portland Will Miss
Candlelight vigil
to pay tribute to
late showman
C ari H achmann
T he P ortland O bserver
Anyone who’s spent much time
in Portland, visited the Saturday
Market downtown or crossed the
Hawthorne Bridge from the eastside
to the west, knew of “working” Kirk
Reeves.
You may not have know him by
name, but Portlanders knew him as Street performer Kirk Reeves at the approach to the Hawthorne
the street performer in a white tux Bridge. (KATU photo)
and Mickey Mouse ears, the smil
The announcement came as sad place and want to leave.”
ing African-American man who news for many Portlanders. Police
F rien d s to ld re p o rte rs that
plays trumpet and performs magic withheld the cause of Reeve’s death Reeves had previously been home
tricks for kids and waves
until they could locate his less and suffered from diabetes and
at passing cars.
family members, which they cataracts.
But behind the glint of
soon did, notifying his sis
“I think he had a lot of dreams and
childlike nostalgia he
ter in Boston, Mass.
he was getting very disheartened
brought to an ordinary
Friends of Reeves said and he felt things just kept getting
day, you may not have
he was growing disheart w orse and w o rse,” said N our
know n that w herever
ened about his waning en Mobarak, a Portland filmmaker who
Reeves turned in for the
tertainm ent career, the produced a student documentary
night, he suffered tears.
Oregonian’s Steve Beaven about Reeves several years ago.
On Nov. 4, police dis Kirk Reeves
reported.
“He was struggling a lot.”
covered Reeves’ body at
In May, he left for Los
Reeves’s friendship and compas
the Smith and Bybee W etlands Angeles to audition for the televi sion touched the lives of so many
Natural Area on North Marine Drive. sion shows “America’s Got Talent” Portlanders and the city will not be
Police say he took his own life with and “Shark Tank,” but friends said the same without him.
a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He he wasn’t selected for either. An
The irony in his life and death is
was 56-years-old.
other film m aking prospect fell that if we could have showed him
through.
the compassion he handed so freely
Last month, the Oregonian re to all of us, we could have inspired
ports, Reeves sent a long, rambling him with a little more hope.
email to friends detailing his disap
Rest in Peace Kirk, your smile will
pointments, health problems and be missed.
his desire to kill himself.
Friends will hold a candlelight
“I haven't committed suicide be vigil for Reeves on Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.
cause too many people would be starting near the west side of the
hurt,” he wrote. “But I hate this Hawthorne Bridge.
by
HAPPYTHANKSGIVING!!!
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Open: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm & Sun ioam-7pm
Tel: (503) 445-4959
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333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212
(503) 284-7838
Truly making a difference in the lives of
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If you or someone you know has been in an accident,
call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838
Jack & Jill Social Club
Cordially invites you to our
We are located on the
corner o f MLK and Russell
Street, on the second floor
above the coffee shop.
Masquerade Christmas Party
Saturday, December 8,2012
9:00pm to 2:00am
at Billy Webb Elks Lodge
>
Portland, Oregon 97227
f0
Entertainment provided by D J mike Morris
Parkma Area
Price: $10.00 for singles
$15.00 for couples
Russell St
S
Of
For more information, please call
(503) 421-4877 or (503) 778-0531