Love you James Dobbs

James lived homeless for over 40 years. The last twenty of those he was full-time at the 520 off-ramp in the Montlake neighborhood. He slept under the concrete ramp at night and begged at the stop-light during the day for his only income. He was hated and loved.

James died July 15, 2021 from complications following a major stroke suffered in November. He was 55 years old.

He was hated for all the reasons people can hate the homeless. He was always dirty with tattered clothes. He smelled. His language was often difficult to understand. At times he was angry and frustrated. His behavior when begging moved from being motionless with his hands cupped out in front of him to other times his arms flailing and head shaking. Some people were afraid of him. All of it fitting neatly the negative stereotype of homelessness. If that is the James you saw, you missed seeing what a beautiful beautiful man he was.

James was gentle and kind. He laughed easily. He loved people and honored friendships. It’s hard to know how many people lowered their car window to offer something kind to him, and how many of those then turned into friendships. I do know this - if you were able to push through the negative stereotype to see him, you found a man profoundly worth knowing. Despite all his suffering, he stayed positive. He smiled with his whole face and laughed with his whole body. There was a charm to him that left you feeling good and glad you spent time sharing the moment.

James never flew-a-sign when begging. He didn’t because he was illiterate. He dropped out of school around the age of twelve and became homeless at 15. He lived a very different and difficult life with a great deal of suffering. There were times when he was so sick I didn’t think he would recover or winters I didn’t think he would make through. He was a true survivor.

James was helped greatly by the Facing Homelessness community. A wide range of items were donated and brought to him over the years. This included pants, shirts, shoes, coats, hats, sleeping bags, tarps, tents and food gift cards. Lots of food gift cards!

For each of the last six years we would post on the Facing Homelessness FB page when James had a birthday coming up on January 7th. People were asked to send birthday cards, telling him how much he’s loved. It still makes me smile bigBIG for how important this was for him. Cakes were baked and cards poured in from all over the country and around the world. On one of his birthdays James received more than a hundred cards! We would sit with him and read every single one out loud. The words were always beautiful. Sometimes we had to read them again because he was so busy checking to see if any money had been included. When he would find a $5 or $10 he would put it on his forehead, yell out loud, “THANK YOU THANK YOU!!” and then kiss it! For weeks and weeks, sometimes months, after his birthday he would ask, “Did any more cards come in for me?”

Over the years people tried to help James. There were those that wanted to teach him to read, or help find him work. Others waded into the complexity of looking for housing. Kind beautiful people made a big difference for him. In the end though everyone found the barriers he was experiencing to be too overwhelming.

That is until James met Blair Jordan. Blair was a student at the University of Washington in the business school when she lowered her car window and said hello to James. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. She would end up making it her personal mission to get him inside. And she did!

In April of 2020 James moved into the Kerner-Scott House run by DESC. There are no words to describe how beautiful that moment was. James was now sleeping in a bed. James was cooking his own food in his own kitchen. James was showering, shaving, and wearing clean clothes.

When Blair first said hello to James she could not have known she would be changing his life. She also could not have known she would be changing her own life. Blair’s career veered away from business into social work. She got a job doing outreach at DESC and currently works at REACH as a Screening & Outreach Coordinator. She will tell you, “Every day I am motivated to do this work because of James, he changed my life.”

James is survived by his two sisters Becky and Thurnice who live in Texas and a large chosen family of friends here in Seattle. He will be dearly missed by all those that knew him, loved him, and were changed by him. Love you James.  

PLEASE JOIN US for a Community Celebration for James on August 17th 6:00 PM at East Montlake Park. Everyone is welcome!!!

This gathering will be held at the last place James lived outside, where he was told he would be moving inside. We are inviting everyone to come and take part in honoring James’ life. Parking will be tight. If you can bus, bike, or walk, please do. Even though it is outside, we are asking everyone to wear a mask. If you can make it, please let us know in the comments of this post. If you would like to share a story or feelings about James at the celebration, or have any questions whatsoever, please email me at rex@block-architects.com.