[ORRando] Steve Gitchell

[ryan good]

That is horrible news. I too am saddened to receive it. I didn't know Steve all that well, but we had many pleasant conversations over the last few years when we'd randomly encounter one another in a coffee shop or bike shop. Almost always, we ended our conversations saying, "Let's go ride sometime!" He was a fascinating guy, and- as Theo said- always smiling, always friendly, always encouraging. I wish I'd known him better, and I wish I'd followed through on the threat to get together for rides. 
 
Tailwinds, Steve.
 

________________________________
From: Theo Elliot Roffe <theoelliot at gmail.com>
To: OrRando <orrando at orrandonneurs.org> 
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 4:44 PM
Subject: [ORRando] Steve Gitchell


It saddens me to share this news, but fellow Oregon Randonneur Steve Gitchell died this week.  He was 64.

I am grateful to have known Steve, to have had the chance to ride with him (he was RUSA 5099), to see him unexpectedly around town (he was always riding one of his bikes around Portland), and for the talks we had.

We both showed up, a few years ago, at a garage sale out of Ira Ryan's frame building shop and spent several hours talking; about his tours in Vietnam, about bicycling, about love and relationships, about work, and life, and change.

On the MAX, heading home from a populaire this past spring, he tried to convince me to go into the French Foreign Legion.  I wasn't sure then, and now I'll never know, if he was kidding, or serious.  He might have been serious...


Another time, working with the Community Cycling Center's Bike Camp this summer, Steve happened upon me and my group of campers.  He rode along with us, keeping pace with a young girl who had only recently started riding bikes, smiling, and helping us keep an eye on traffic and get through busy intersections.

He was usually smiling (except for the time he told me that he was going to kill me for the headwind on a ride I organized - he said I'd never see it coming, but I suppose I can let my guard down now), always dapper, and clearly loved riding his bike.

Here's a link to some pictures I took of Steve and one of his bikes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoelliot/sets/72157632557062184/

And to an Oregon Herald article about his death: http://www.oregonherald.com/oregon/local.cfm?id=2877&Business-News=Nweberg-man-found-dead-on-his-living-room-floor.htm

-Theo Roffe
Portland, OR

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