PORTLAND, Ore. — Friends of a man who killed in Northeast Portland in February are remembering him for his kindness and generosity.
On Feb. 5, 61-year-old Ron Gaul died after being hit by two cars along Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Portland police identified Gaul as the victim more than four months after the incident.
"He just was a likable guy," said Maria Los, a friend of Gaul’s. "He just was really friendly, had a great sense of humor."
Los ran a warehouse filled with leather goods in Northeast Portland, which is how she first met Gaul. He was homeless and bought hundreds of pairs of boots from Los.
"So, he was pretty much known as the boot guy," Los said.
Gaul would sell the boots over the summer along the side of the road. He often had many customers, friends said.
"It took a lot of work and energy to do that," Los added.
Whenever Gaul made money, instead of using it to improve his own livelihood, he was quick to help friends in need. He would often give money away, Los said. Gaul also allowed friends to stay in his U-Haul truck if they didn’t have anywhere else to sleep.
Gaul had been walking over this his friend Wayne Bund’s home when he was struck and killed, Bund said.
"I can't even remember what day of the week it was," Bund said.
No arrests were made. Portland police said the two drivers involved both cooperated with the investigation.
Four months after Gaul’s death, friends in his community continue to struggle with his loss.
"We just can't believe he's not here," Bund said. "We all miss him a lot."
After Gaul’s death, Los constructed a memorial at the intersection where Gaul died, marked with a pair of leather boots.
"He was a really good guy that I miss a lot,” Los said. “That many people miss."
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