I just finished my Tuesday jog, and included the southern tip of Ravenna Park, right near our house, as part of it. I jogged through last Thursday, as well, amidst a significant police presence. Turns out a man was killed there in the wee hours of Thursday morning. And as I feared, it turns out the man killed was someone I’d regularly see on most of my runs through the park.
I never knew his name but his presence was unmistakable. Large and foreboding, he regularly occupied a park bench, yes, the bench in today’s photo. Like others, I saw him as a kind of park guardian, a superhero of sorts. And truth be told, I also found him somewhat intimidating and scary. I had designs on approaching him and talking to him, thinking his story might make a good story for my Kind Living blog.
Too late for that. Alpha Lake Rajai, Ravenna Park guardian, was killed while trying to defend himself. If you care to, learn more at The Seattle Times story.
This post is intended as a tribute to Mr. Rajai, much as is his bench in the park today.
Today’s Prompt: Share a tribute to someone you know.
Andy Smallman 
I have not properly mourned my nephew’s untimely death under unsettling circumstances this past November. We do not know for sure how he died or whether there might have been an altercation with friends who were invited in. The door was ajar and there was not enough evidence for further police investigation despite clear indications of a beating.
Those are the facts of his death. The details of his life are bleak. He was an alcoholic from the time he was in his late twenties. He was able to maintain a job until his late thirties. Then alcohol became the only thing he did until his death at 43. He was a good person whose life was ruined and ended early because of alcoholism.
I did not like what he became, but I tried to be as kind as possible whenever I saw him which was infrequent. It is hard to know how to mourn a wasted life, hard to know how not to be angry with the people who loved him, enabling and “taking care” of him despite his inablility to give up alcohol. I have been looking at the pictures I have of him as a young boy full of the promise everyone has. I know I am grieving the beauty and youth and hope that he once had, but also the loss of someone I loved whose death is a terrible thing to contemplate.
This, like many of your posts, Linda, is quite moving. Thanks for your willingness to share it.
Thank you for your post. “Roman’s” memorial is this sunday the 18th, 11am at the park. Will be nice to see you. You will meet many of his friends from decades and decades.
-Rajai friend
Hello Timber-
Can you please provide any additional details of the memorial service for Roman/Lake? There is a large group in the community of the Ravenna Park that would like to honor him and I’d be happy to share the details with the whole group. Lake walked by our house every day for many years and we had many conversations with him in our yard and at his bench. We are so saddened by his death. It will be nice to meet you and his friends.
Thank you- Jen
I knew Alpha Lake Rajai as well. He was a regular at the University YMCA.
I only knew him as “Lake”. I met him 3 or 4 years ago. He was an intimidating figure and for weeks I didn’t talk to him. Eventually we broke the ice and it was the beginning of many great discussions about politics, economics, the state of black/white race relations in America, etc.
Lake had a real sense of style. Even though he was of meager means, he dressed well, understood the value of first impressions, and was in a way, larger than life.
I never knew much about his personal housing situation. He told me once that he rented a room in North Seattle. I don’t know if that arrangement had fallen through, or if he was just too embarrassed to tell me that he was homeless. In fact, he may not have been homeless at all; it wouldn’t surprise me if the Seattle Times got that detail of the story wrong.
I couldn’t believe when I read that he was murdered. I’m going to miss him.
I just learned yesterday that the man killed was who I feared it was (and hoped it wasn’t) upon hearing the news reports. My heart is broken. I had a good 20 minutes of crying out loud after I walked to his bench and saw the makeshift memorial. I would see Roman while walking our dogs, sitting on that bench, sometimes in the sun. He always said hello and commented on how lovely our dogs were. He was a figure that I came to look forward to seeing sitting there. I am sick to my stomach that his life was taken away in a senseless and stupid act of violence involving a gun. It literally tears me apart inside. I will miss seeing him and saying hello. Most of all, I hope we are allowed to place a memorial there or dedicate that bench to him somehow. Homeless or not, he was a human being and he mattered. RIP.
There is a memorial for Lake tomorrow, March 18th, at 11:00 AM. It will be at the south end of Ravenna Park near the ball fields.
The photographer from the PI has now posted photos of Roman’s memorial service:
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/gallery/Ravenna-Park-memorial-for-Alpha-Lake-Rajai-40663/photo-2697702.php
Nicole Brodeur of the Seattle Times has done a very touching column on Roman’s passing here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2017793426_nicole20.html