Bethany's Eulogy from Funeral Service in Knoxville
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” - Isaiah 61:1-4
These verses were read at our wedding as a testimony of our life’s mission together - To be a part of restoration for devastated people and places. Tony lived out this mission. And it was my privilege to watch him grow in knowledge, skills, and passion for restoring people and places that are marginalized and oppressed. He had a focus and a drive, and he knew how to call others into their unique calling. Tony did this with compassion and humor and sometimes a little red-headed fire. Everyone around him experienced his conviction. I always knew he was making an impact on the world, but it has been evident to me over the past few days that he touched more peoples’ lives in 35 years than most do in 85. Those of us close to him experienced his humor, joy, and his childlike spirit. We saw his deep desire for love and belonging. We knew his love and his care for us. We loved Tony and we always will.
So now these verses are for us. We are the broken-hearted and the mourning. We are devastated. And we will be rebuilt as we remember our Tony and what he brought to our lives. We will lean on each other in the coming weeks, months, and years. We will feel the great love of God in the midst of our great suffering. We will honor Tony by loving and caring for ourselves so that we can continue his mission of caring for others. We will honor him by listening to the voices of the oppressed and rising to action while calling others to join us. We will honor Tony by allowing ourselves to feel our pain and our joy - to fully embrace being human in this broken and beautiful world and to share our humanity and honesty with others. This is what he would want for us.
Tony meant something different to each of us. To me, he was my husband, my best friend, my adventure partner, and my full time comedian. He was the one who filled my heart, challenged my perspectives, and taught me to stand up for myself and use my voice. He showed me when to slow down and be present and when to speed up and get things done - in a very specific, strategic way. Our world together was full of love, beauty, meaning, fun, and adventure. I don’t know where life will take take me from here, but I’ll remember and honor Tony - and he will be a part of me forever. And so will each of you. We are all connected now, through Tony’s beautiful life.
I hope you’ll consider all the beauty that Tony brought to your life. We knew him as a beautiful soul - we saw it in his eyes and in his smile and heard it in his laughter and in his powerful voice. He is with us today and he is loved - fully, unconditionally loved and accepted by all of us and by his Creator who formed him in the womb and called him Beloved. I’m filled with joy at the thought of it. Thank you for everything you were to us, Tony. We love you. I love you.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” - Isaiah 61:1-4
These verses were read at our wedding as a testimony of our life’s mission together - To be a part of restoration for devastated people and places. Tony lived out this mission. And it was my privilege to watch him grow in knowledge, skills, and passion for restoring people and places that are marginalized and oppressed. He had a focus and a drive, and he knew how to call others into their unique calling. Tony did this with compassion and humor and sometimes a little red-headed fire. Everyone around him experienced his conviction. I always knew he was making an impact on the world, but it has been evident to me over the past few days that he touched more peoples’ lives in 35 years than most do in 85. Those of us close to him experienced his humor, joy, and his childlike spirit. We saw his deep desire for love and belonging. We knew his love and his care for us. We loved Tony and we always will.
So now these verses are for us. We are the broken-hearted and the mourning. We are devastated. And we will be rebuilt as we remember our Tony and what he brought to our lives. We will lean on each other in the coming weeks, months, and years. We will feel the great love of God in the midst of our great suffering. We will honor Tony by loving and caring for ourselves so that we can continue his mission of caring for others. We will honor him by listening to the voices of the oppressed and rising to action while calling others to join us. We will honor Tony by allowing ourselves to feel our pain and our joy - to fully embrace being human in this broken and beautiful world and to share our humanity and honesty with others. This is what he would want for us.
Tony meant something different to each of us. To me, he was my husband, my best friend, my adventure partner, and my full time comedian. He was the one who filled my heart, challenged my perspectives, and taught me to stand up for myself and use my voice. He showed me when to slow down and be present and when to speed up and get things done - in a very specific, strategic way. Our world together was full of love, beauty, meaning, fun, and adventure. I don’t know where life will take take me from here, but I’ll remember and honor Tony - and he will be a part of me forever. And so will each of you. We are all connected now, through Tony’s beautiful life.
I hope you’ll consider all the beauty that Tony brought to your life. We knew him as a beautiful soul - we saw it in his eyes and in his smile and heard it in his laughter and in his powerful voice. He is with us today and he is loved - fully, unconditionally loved and accepted by all of us and by his Creator who formed him in the womb and called him Beloved. I’m filled with joy at the thought of it. Thank you for everything you were to us, Tony. We love you. I love you.
Wes' (Tony's brother-in-law) Eulogy from funeral service in Knoxville
From the moment Tony walked into my house about 10 years ago he had an instant connection with the girls and me, which is not surprising … That was just Tony.
At this first encounter it was obvious how infectious of a personality Tony had. He made immediate connections with just about everybody who met him.
A few lighthearted things about Tony that i want to share …
1. He was competitive. One of the games we played at family gatherings during holidays was Settlers of Catan. I Remember one instance when my oldest daughter, who was probably 8 or 9 years old, was learning to play. I suggested to her a move that resulted in blocking Tony so he could not make another move. This infuriated Tony, b/c he did not like to lose. He walked away and almost quit the game. Bethany had to go talk some sense into him to not get so upset about an eight-year-old winning the game.
2. Tony was a coffee snob. On more than one occasion at family events he turned his nose up at corporate coffee that was offered at one of our homes. This is probably a result of being from Portland … The good-coffee-capital of the United States. I always knew if Bethany and Tony were coming into town we would have really good non-corporate coffee.
3. Tony loved Portland… A lot … It was almost obnoxious how much he loved the city. On more than one occasion I would make a comment about a restaurant in Jackson or Hattiesburg, to which he would reply with something along the lines of, “If you think that is good you should try [such and such] in Portland.” I would just roll my eyes and go with it. But seriously though, the man had a huge heart and love for the city, and the city is better today because of Tony‘s presence there.
On a more serious note,
Tony was a man of faith and this translated to a deep passion for people and for justice. Bethany, I remember the scripture passage I read at your wedding, Isaiah 61:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1 NLT
This was the verse Jesus quoted in Luke at the beginning of his ministry. I would venture to say this was probably a life verse for Tony as he lived out justice for the poor and oppressed in his daily life and work in Portland … it was his heartbeat.
Also, I remember one of the songs at your wedding was “Beautiful Things” by the band Gungor, a song about God bringing the broken pieces of life together to make things beautiful, and again I think this was the heartbeat of Tony’s life
He was passionately committed to loving people and to God’s justice in the world. It seems like a paradox, but Tony, as we know, had deep hurts and a deep struggle to feel like he belonged. Last year while in Los Angeles he confided in me that he felt like he really didn’t belong anywhere, and yet even in his brokenness God used him to create a better world for many people.
In his book titled “The Wounded Healer,” Catholic author, Henri Nouwen (one of my favorites) claims that in our woundedness, we can become a source of life for others … in Christ, God uses the woundedness in us to bring healing to others.
“[We] are each called to be the wounded healer, the ones who must not only look after their own wounds, but at the same time be prepared to heal the wounds of others. [We] are both wounded ministers and healing ministers …” (pg 88)
Tony’s faith in Jesus drove his heart for people and justice. Tony was a wounded healer. Tragically, in the end his deep pain blinded him from the hope we all have in Jesus, and this is why we mourn today. And yet we rest in the promise that God’s grace is bigger than even our darkest moment, and Tony is at rest now in the embrace of God our Father.
But Tony, my brother, in your woundedness you had an amazing impact on a lot of people … more than you knew in your lifetime.
In your struggle to belong you displayed an amazing ability for hospitality, helping marginalized people feel welcomed, loved, and have a sense of belonging.
In the end you struggled to know just how much you were loved and how much impact you had, and yet you were a wounded healer … your life mattered.
We will miss you
My girls will miss their Uncle Tony
We love you and pray that your impact will continue to be felt in your beloved city and beyond.
Rest in peace and in the loving embrace of God our Father
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen
From the moment Tony walked into my house about 10 years ago he had an instant connection with the girls and me, which is not surprising … That was just Tony.
At this first encounter it was obvious how infectious of a personality Tony had. He made immediate connections with just about everybody who met him.
A few lighthearted things about Tony that i want to share …
1. He was competitive. One of the games we played at family gatherings during holidays was Settlers of Catan. I Remember one instance when my oldest daughter, who was probably 8 or 9 years old, was learning to play. I suggested to her a move that resulted in blocking Tony so he could not make another move. This infuriated Tony, b/c he did not like to lose. He walked away and almost quit the game. Bethany had to go talk some sense into him to not get so upset about an eight-year-old winning the game.
2. Tony was a coffee snob. On more than one occasion at family events he turned his nose up at corporate coffee that was offered at one of our homes. This is probably a result of being from Portland … The good-coffee-capital of the United States. I always knew if Bethany and Tony were coming into town we would have really good non-corporate coffee.
3. Tony loved Portland… A lot … It was almost obnoxious how much he loved the city. On more than one occasion I would make a comment about a restaurant in Jackson or Hattiesburg, to which he would reply with something along the lines of, “If you think that is good you should try [such and such] in Portland.” I would just roll my eyes and go with it. But seriously though, the man had a huge heart and love for the city, and the city is better today because of Tony‘s presence there.
On a more serious note,
Tony was a man of faith and this translated to a deep passion for people and for justice. Bethany, I remember the scripture passage I read at your wedding, Isaiah 61:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1 NLT
This was the verse Jesus quoted in Luke at the beginning of his ministry. I would venture to say this was probably a life verse for Tony as he lived out justice for the poor and oppressed in his daily life and work in Portland … it was his heartbeat.
Also, I remember one of the songs at your wedding was “Beautiful Things” by the band Gungor, a song about God bringing the broken pieces of life together to make things beautiful, and again I think this was the heartbeat of Tony’s life
He was passionately committed to loving people and to God’s justice in the world. It seems like a paradox, but Tony, as we know, had deep hurts and a deep struggle to feel like he belonged. Last year while in Los Angeles he confided in me that he felt like he really didn’t belong anywhere, and yet even in his brokenness God used him to create a better world for many people.
In his book titled “The Wounded Healer,” Catholic author, Henri Nouwen (one of my favorites) claims that in our woundedness, we can become a source of life for others … in Christ, God uses the woundedness in us to bring healing to others.
“[We] are each called to be the wounded healer, the ones who must not only look after their own wounds, but at the same time be prepared to heal the wounds of others. [We] are both wounded ministers and healing ministers …” (pg 88)
Tony’s faith in Jesus drove his heart for people and justice. Tony was a wounded healer. Tragically, in the end his deep pain blinded him from the hope we all have in Jesus, and this is why we mourn today. And yet we rest in the promise that God’s grace is bigger than even our darkest moment, and Tony is at rest now in the embrace of God our Father.
But Tony, my brother, in your woundedness you had an amazing impact on a lot of people … more than you knew in your lifetime.
In your struggle to belong you displayed an amazing ability for hospitality, helping marginalized people feel welcomed, loved, and have a sense of belonging.
In the end you struggled to know just how much you were loved and how much impact you had, and yet you were a wounded healer … your life mattered.
We will miss you
My girls will miss their Uncle Tony
We love you and pray that your impact will continue to be felt in your beloved city and beyond.
Rest in peace and in the loving embrace of God our Father
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen
Tribute from Dr. Greg Schrock
August 4, 2020
Dear members of the Lamb family and beloved of Tony,
Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss. In this moment of grieving and celebrating
Tony’s life, please allow me to share a little bit about what made Tony so special to me, and why I
won’t soon forget him.
I’m a professor at Portland State in urban studies and planning, and have been teaching for over a
decade now. As an educator, my greatest joy comes from seeing students take the knowledge and
skills that we can help them develop, bring that together with their passion and life experience, and
use that combination to improve their own capabilities, and make our community a better place.
I met Tony in 2015, when he was a student in a large undergraduate survey class on urban
planning. It was obvious from day one that a light bulb had gone on and Tony “got it” – he saw how
important urban planning was in shaping his own life experience, and those of the Black and Brown
communities where he worked in East Portland. I was so excited that he chose to continue his
education at PSU in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program in 2016, and even more so
that he focused his coursework on economic development, which I teach. I was his academic
advisor in the MURP program, and he took a total of five classes with me at PSU, and worked with
me as a graduate research assistant in 2016-17. And after graduating in 2018, Tony came to my
class to share the expertise in racial equity analysis that he had developed working at the City of
Portland. He was doing tremendous work at the City, and I was so proud and hopeful about the
promise that his career held for making Portland a better, more just community. His death last
week was absolutely devastating for me, as it was for many.
In reflecting on my five-plus years of knowing Tony, one memory along the way stands out. In
summer 2017 Tony was working with me on a project for the City looking at how to support
emerging, small-scale entrepreneurs who were looking to grow their business. As part of that work,
Tony was quick to say “you know, we really need to look a little deeper, and talk to some people in
my community.” He was absolutely right, and helped to connect us with some Black entrepreneurs
he knew whose perspective helped us to hear things that we certainly wouldn’t have heard
otherwise – things that weren’t always convenient or comfortable. For Tony, it was about
amplifying the voices that we couldn’t hear – or preferred not to hear – but also about challenging
all of us think critically about who was in the room, and who wasn’t – and why that mattered. I’ll
always remember that.
Tony’s life mattered to so many people. He inspired. He mentored. He advocated. He cared. He
loved. I learned from him probably as much as he learned from me. As I reflect on Tony’s life and
how to honor it, I cannot help but think about the future generations of urban planning students
and professionals who Tony would have inspired through his work. I cannot help but think about
the impact that Tony would have made on the Portland community, especially in the Black
community that he loved and worked tirelessly to lift up. I cannot help but think about how we can
keep Tony’s spirit alive and inspire future generations of students to make his fight their fight. I
cannot help but think about how we can keep Tony’s spirit alive in ways that positively impact the
communities that Tony cared about.
As a PSU community, we would like to organize an event in the coming weeks to remember Tony
and honor his work and his spirit. We would be delighted if you were willing to attend and
participate. We would also like to establish a more permanent memorial to Tony, through a
scholarship fund that would support students working to lift up BIPOC communities. Tony was –
will continue to be – an important part of our community.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you celebrate Tony’s life. I wish I could be at
tomorrow’s funeral service, but know that so many of us who cared about Tony are with you in
spirit.
In peace,
Greg Schrock
Associate Professor, Urban Studies and Planning
Portland State University
August 4, 2020
Dear members of the Lamb family and beloved of Tony,
Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss. In this moment of grieving and celebrating
Tony’s life, please allow me to share a little bit about what made Tony so special to me, and why I
won’t soon forget him.
I’m a professor at Portland State in urban studies and planning, and have been teaching for over a
decade now. As an educator, my greatest joy comes from seeing students take the knowledge and
skills that we can help them develop, bring that together with their passion and life experience, and
use that combination to improve their own capabilities, and make our community a better place.
I met Tony in 2015, when he was a student in a large undergraduate survey class on urban
planning. It was obvious from day one that a light bulb had gone on and Tony “got it” – he saw how
important urban planning was in shaping his own life experience, and those of the Black and Brown
communities where he worked in East Portland. I was so excited that he chose to continue his
education at PSU in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program in 2016, and even more so
that he focused his coursework on economic development, which I teach. I was his academic
advisor in the MURP program, and he took a total of five classes with me at PSU, and worked with
me as a graduate research assistant in 2016-17. And after graduating in 2018, Tony came to my
class to share the expertise in racial equity analysis that he had developed working at the City of
Portland. He was doing tremendous work at the City, and I was so proud and hopeful about the
promise that his career held for making Portland a better, more just community. His death last
week was absolutely devastating for me, as it was for many.
In reflecting on my five-plus years of knowing Tony, one memory along the way stands out. In
summer 2017 Tony was working with me on a project for the City looking at how to support
emerging, small-scale entrepreneurs who were looking to grow their business. As part of that work,
Tony was quick to say “you know, we really need to look a little deeper, and talk to some people in
my community.” He was absolutely right, and helped to connect us with some Black entrepreneurs
he knew whose perspective helped us to hear things that we certainly wouldn’t have heard
otherwise – things that weren’t always convenient or comfortable. For Tony, it was about
amplifying the voices that we couldn’t hear – or preferred not to hear – but also about challenging
all of us think critically about who was in the room, and who wasn’t – and why that mattered. I’ll
always remember that.
Tony’s life mattered to so many people. He inspired. He mentored. He advocated. He cared. He
loved. I learned from him probably as much as he learned from me. As I reflect on Tony’s life and
how to honor it, I cannot help but think about the future generations of urban planning students
and professionals who Tony would have inspired through his work. I cannot help but think about
the impact that Tony would have made on the Portland community, especially in the Black
community that he loved and worked tirelessly to lift up. I cannot help but think about how we can
keep Tony’s spirit alive and inspire future generations of students to make his fight their fight. I
cannot help but think about how we can keep Tony’s spirit alive in ways that positively impact the
communities that Tony cared about.
As a PSU community, we would like to organize an event in the coming weeks to remember Tony
and honor his work and his spirit. We would be delighted if you were willing to attend and
participate. We would also like to establish a more permanent memorial to Tony, through a
scholarship fund that would support students working to lift up BIPOC communities. Tony was –
will continue to be – an important part of our community.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you celebrate Tony’s life. I wish I could be at
tomorrow’s funeral service, but know that so many of us who cared about Tony are with you in
spirit.
In peace,
Greg Schrock
Associate Professor, Urban Studies and Planning
Portland State University
Tribute from BPS (Tony's Employer)
Last week, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and the Portland community lost a dear friend and colleague, Tony Lamb.
Published August 5, 2020 11:05 am
Those who knew Tony lost a shining light in their eyes. Those who worked and played closely with him, shared laughter and conversation with him, also lost an irreplaceable friend.
Tony’s passion for racial justice and equity was a driving force in his work at BPS. His willingness to challenge racist systems and institutional practices within the City for the good of his community was just as powerful.
At BPS, Tony played significant roles in reshaping how the City centers racial justice in our work, especially in analyzing who benefits from our current land use system and addressing the long-term displacement harm experienced by Black, Indigenous and people of color. He was a key part of our team working to address displacement in our community. His determination was matched by an indelible heart that made it a privilege to collaborate with him.
Tony once described doing racial equity planning at BPS as his dream job, and it was a dream for BPS to have him. He modeled how to work accountably with BIPOC communities to change our policies in order to meet their vision for a just and equitable future. His commitment to results-based outcomes and accountability to BIPOC communities – as well as internal culture changes for BPS – will be one of his lasting legacies with us.
Perhaps his greatest gift to us was the way he prioritized the care of his colleagues and building community. It’s a gift we are putting to use today as we continue to grieve our loss.
Before joining BPS, Tony was the Director of Economic Development at the Rosewood Initiative, where he supported Black-led and Black-serving organizations and programs. In 2018, he received his Masters in Urban Planning from Portland State University.
Tony loved the outdoors and enjoyed exploring the Cascades while backpacking and trail running. He also had boundless energy for working with community groups like Play Grow Learn and serving on the board of the Community Cycling Center. Tony Lamb was a true joy to be around. We will miss his smile, intellect and passion.
It is our commitment to push forward as an anti-racist organization working for racial equity and restitution. We are also committed to creating a culture where mental health needs are normalized and safe to share. We will continue to work across the City to provide support for staff who may struggle with depression, addiction or thoughts of suicide. We affirm these commitments in honor of Tony’s legacy.
Last week, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and the Portland community lost a dear friend and colleague, Tony Lamb.
Published August 5, 2020 11:05 am
Those who knew Tony lost a shining light in their eyes. Those who worked and played closely with him, shared laughter and conversation with him, also lost an irreplaceable friend.
Tony’s passion for racial justice and equity was a driving force in his work at BPS. His willingness to challenge racist systems and institutional practices within the City for the good of his community was just as powerful.
At BPS, Tony played significant roles in reshaping how the City centers racial justice in our work, especially in analyzing who benefits from our current land use system and addressing the long-term displacement harm experienced by Black, Indigenous and people of color. He was a key part of our team working to address displacement in our community. His determination was matched by an indelible heart that made it a privilege to collaborate with him.
Tony once described doing racial equity planning at BPS as his dream job, and it was a dream for BPS to have him. He modeled how to work accountably with BIPOC communities to change our policies in order to meet their vision for a just and equitable future. His commitment to results-based outcomes and accountability to BIPOC communities – as well as internal culture changes for BPS – will be one of his lasting legacies with us.
Perhaps his greatest gift to us was the way he prioritized the care of his colleagues and building community. It’s a gift we are putting to use today as we continue to grieve our loss.
Before joining BPS, Tony was the Director of Economic Development at the Rosewood Initiative, where he supported Black-led and Black-serving organizations and programs. In 2018, he received his Masters in Urban Planning from Portland State University.
Tony loved the outdoors and enjoyed exploring the Cascades while backpacking and trail running. He also had boundless energy for working with community groups like Play Grow Learn and serving on the board of the Community Cycling Center. Tony Lamb was a true joy to be around. We will miss his smile, intellect and passion.
It is our commitment to push forward as an anti-racist organization working for racial equity and restitution. We are also committed to creating a culture where mental health needs are normalized and safe to share. We will continue to work across the City to provide support for staff who may struggle with depression, addiction or thoughts of suicide. We affirm these commitments in honor of Tony’s legacy.
Bethany's speech from Tony's Candlelight Vigil in Portland
I think that at his core, the two questions Tony asked over and over are, “Am I loved?” and “Does my life matter?” I know that he is here with us tonight seeing all this love and the tremendous impact of his life on so many. He mattered. His beautiful life always deeply mattered, and he was so loved. We gather here tonight to say “We see you, Tony. We adore the man that you were. You survived too much pain, and we honor your life for the miracle that it was.”
I am so grateful for this opportunity to hear from all of you. I got to hear from Tony about his work, and I got to read what he created for work, but I rarely got to see him in action. I know I married a force to be reckoned with, and to hear from you about how he used that force and passion to create change in this city is such a privilege to me.
Tony was loved, and he also loved. He loved me, he loved this city, he loved his family and friends, he loved being in nature, he loved books (and buying books) and every opportunity to learn something new, he loved to run, he loved making people laugh, he loved being a part of something important, he loved being a part of the Black community, he loved any adventure or opportunity that came his way, and he loved leading, teaching, and advocating with and for others.
There are things that I will always remember about Tony.
I think that at his core, the two questions Tony asked over and over are, “Am I loved?” and “Does my life matter?” I know that he is here with us tonight seeing all this love and the tremendous impact of his life on so many. He mattered. His beautiful life always deeply mattered, and he was so loved. We gather here tonight to say “We see you, Tony. We adore the man that you were. You survived too much pain, and we honor your life for the miracle that it was.”
I am so grateful for this opportunity to hear from all of you. I got to hear from Tony about his work, and I got to read what he created for work, but I rarely got to see him in action. I know I married a force to be reckoned with, and to hear from you about how he used that force and passion to create change in this city is such a privilege to me.
Tony was loved, and he also loved. He loved me, he loved this city, he loved his family and friends, he loved being in nature, he loved books (and buying books) and every opportunity to learn something new, he loved to run, he loved making people laugh, he loved being a part of something important, he loved being a part of the Black community, he loved any adventure or opportunity that came his way, and he loved leading, teaching, and advocating with and for others.
There are things that I will always remember about Tony.
- I will remember how he would literally stop and smell the roses. He soaked up life unlike anyone else I know, and he taught me to do the same.
- I will remember his childlike spirit - every baby and child I have ever known has been obsessed with Tony - they forget about me very quickly in his presence! He could make anything fun and had a huge imagination.
- I will always remember the feeling of sitting in a restaurant and Tony cutting into other people’s conversations. I was always mortified, but usually he would just end up making a new friend - or provide information that someone was *clearly* missing.
- I will remember how Tony would stop and read every single educational placard that he crossed - whether on a trail or in a museum or on the side of the road. He wanted to learn and know everything that he could.
- I will remember how Tony could freestyle rap (only in very specific settings) and do incredible impressions, especially impressions of my very Southern family. If you know Tony at all, you know that he was very quick on his feet.
- I will remember and cherish how Tony co-existed between connection to nature and connection to this people and this city. He simultaneously wanted to own a ranch in the middle of nowhere and wanted to be as close to the action of the city as possible. I saw that Tony felt most alive in the mountains with me and in Portland with all of you, doing this work.