An Oakland street dweller generously helped others. When he died, thieves helped themselves
Otis R. Taylor Jr. Feb. 27, 2020 Updated: Feb. 27, 2020 4 a.m.
When Kelly Thompson, a homeless Vietnam veteran, had his truck towed by the city of Oakland in October 2018, he was told it would cost him $750 to retrieve it from the impound lot.
Thompson didn’t have the cash, but he knew someone who didn’t hesitate to lend it to him.
Gary Rosenquist opened his wallet for community members in need. He gave Thompson the money to retrieve his truck. Thompson grew close to Rosenquist, an Army veteran who was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, during the three years they spent as neighbors in an encampment on a private lot on Wood Street in West Oakland.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/otisrtaylorjr/article/An-Oakland-street-dweller-generously-helped-15087353.php
