Brian Love Update

July 10, 2013
Splabman

As I posted on this blog last week, Brian Love, a longtime SPLAB volunteer and all-around handyman, was killed by a drunk driver on July 5th. The man accused of the crime, Floyd Gonzales, will be arraigned on the 22nd. Brian Whale writes in the Auburn Reporter of the criminal record of Gonzales:

According to court papers, Gonzalez is a convicted felon, who was sentenced to more than 10 years in Thurston County for assault 2 and kidnapping 1 in 2001. He was released last December but is on active community custody for those crimes.

Among his juvenile convictions are escape 1 (Grant County, Nov. 2000), assault 3 (Grays Harbor, 1999), vehicle prowl-robbery 1 (Grays Harbor, 1999), assault 4 (1996 and 1998), theft 2 (1997) residential burglary (1997), two counts of vehicle prowl (1997), two counts of theft (1996) and using a cellphone while driving (April 2013).

You can read Robert’s hard news piece here: http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/215001881.html

& his more lifestyle piece, including a quote from me, here: http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/214987231.html

As if the story were not sad enough, Brian’s earthly remains are in limbo because all those close to him are not blood relatives and lack the financial means to hire attorneys to fight to have the body released to his fiancee.

I have written two elegies for Brian: http://paulenelson.com/2013/07/06/elegy-for-brian-love/ 

http://paulenelson.com/2013/07/07/90-slow-down-tahoe-driver-for-brian-love/

Auburn is fortunate to have such a good local paper and a remarkable, dedicated reporter like Robert Whale who always works hard to get the story right.

New item:

Memorial Services for Brian Love
Wednesday July 17
1:00 p.m.
Auburn Adventist Academy Church
5000 Auburn Way South 
Auburn WA 98092
 
Share Stories and celebrate his life there will be a pot luck afterwards at the RAINBOW CAFE, Downtown Auburn, 112 E. Main St.  98002 
Also, his sister Karen Bruton has been made aware of Brian’s death and sent this:
Yes, I will be claiming his body and organizing a memorial.  I will be flying in later today to start the wheels in motion.  Feel free to contact me while I’m there if you have any questions or concerns.

Karen Bruton

3 Comments

  1. Robert M. Blevins

    I received a positive response from the WSDOT rep for those DUI signs. You know the ones: ‘Don’t Drink and Drive in Memory of…’

    I’ve put Pete Lewis, the WSDOT rep, and the person who handles this for the city of Auburn all together on this. I’ve requested one of these signs be placed at the corner of Auburn Way and Main Street. I’ve asked it be done before the Auburn Days parade on August 10. The city DOES have a contract with the state to provide these signs when necessary.

  2. Karen Bruton

    His remains are no longer in limbo. I am his sister and will be taking over possession. He will be in good hands.

  3. Michele H

    Would it be possible for some who has the program from Brian’s memorial to post the poem that was inside, by Tagore?
    I do not have a program but I did read a copy of one and have been looking for the poem ever since.
    Many thanks in advance. <3

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

dashed cool colors line

You May Also Like

Cascadian Zen Mini Tour

Cascadian Zen Mini Tour

Seattle-based poetry nonprofit Cascadia Poetics Lab is engaged in multiple celebrations throughout the Cascadia bioregion to celebrate the release of their poetry anthology Cascadian Zen Vol. I, published by Watershed Press. After a successful event at Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle, WA on Monday December 4, 2023; the current calendar of launch events includes Peninsula College in Port Angeles, WA on December 7; Winekraft Wine Bar in Astoria, OR on December 8; Time Enough Books in Ilwaco, WA on December 9. All of these events are open to the public!

Robert Bringhurst The Ridge (Interview) Pt. 1

Robert Bringhurst The Ridge (Interview) Pt. 1

The Ridge is a poem in 20 parts, a meditation on a geological feature of Quadra Island, a large island in British Columbia, just north of the Strait of Georgia, and thus the Salish Sea. But the poem is also a meditation on what’s happening on the island and on the planet we share in what’s been described as devastating imagery. I would add that it’s a meditation on the human species as well, at this time in the early Anthropocene.
Robert Bringhurst is the author. Trained initially in the sciences at MIT, he makes his life in the humanities from his home on Quadra Island, where he’s worked in poetry, Native American linguistics and typography. An officer of the Order of Canada, former Guggenheim Fellow and winner of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence. He’s our guest today to talk about The Ridge. Robert, thanks for your time and hospitality.

CPF7 Empty Bowl Panel Video

CPF7 Empty Bowl Panel Video

Watch the CPF7 Empty Bowl Press Panel! On Saturday, October 7, 2023, we opened our second day of the 7th Cascadia Poetry Festival with an invocation by Jason Wirth. This was followed by panel on Empty Bowl Press. The panel featured poet and Empty Bowl editor Holly...