UPPER LAKE — Bob Roy is a man with the manners, demeanor and penmanship of an era now passed. Roy is a veteran of WWII, a much-loved neighbor and friend to many. His life as he knew it was stripped away in less than 10 minutes.
He was getting ready for bed on a late October evening in his Live Oak Mobile Home Park trailer in Kelseyville when the lights flickered out in his bathroom. Seconds later, the draperies in his living room were on fire, sparked by an electrical shortage.
Most of Roy”s possessions were destroyed, but worst of all for the 82-year-old man who lives alone was the loss of his black-and-white cat, Domino, who could not be saved in time. Roy was pulled from the residence by neighbors who tried to aid by using garden hoses against the raging flames. Roy escaped with minor burns, but tried to re-enter his home to save the cat.
What could have ruined any person”s resolve, only strengthened Roy”s desire to get back on his feet. “I lost everything, my I.D., social security card, my veteran discharge papers, and pictures of my sister and her children and grandchildren. But thanks to all the very generous people who helped me, I”ve been able to keep my head above problems,” Roy said in front of his new residence at The Drift Inn RV Park on the shores of Clear Lake.
The new trailer was donated by a generous woman who wishes to remain anonymous, Roy said, adding the gift is what has allowed him to get back on his feet. His home is furnished and came fully-equipped with pots and pans. Although he has not been there long, his new neighbors are already on a first name basis with Roy, and he even knows the names of their pets.
“I”m getting by and doing pretty well under the circumstances. I”m still adjusting. I live on $931.00 per month from social security and my vet”s pension. I just got a $31.00 raise though, on Jan. 1,” Roy said. “That”s not very much money to live on in California, what with the rent costs here.”
His former neighbors describe Roy as the “godfather of the neighborhood-a well-liked member of the community who always knew what was going on in people”s lives, and genuinely cared for them.”
“He”s a very nice man, very passionate. He gets his Meals-On-Wheels everyday and he saves his salad to give to my rabbit. He”d give you his last dollar if he could,” said former neighbor Jill Wicks in an October interview with the Record-Bee.
To return his kindness, Wicks took Roy in over the holidays until he secured his new home, and Roy spent Thanksgiving at the Wicks”.
“The holidays don”t mean much to me anymore, because of my age. But Thanksgiving was a great day, with a wonderful dinner. We had an avocado and shrimp salad, and I love avocado and I love shrimp,” Roy said as he smiled.
Because of health and medical problems, which include diabetes, Roy cannot drive, but his new neighbors and many friends help by driving him, and assisting with repairs and paperwork. Through donations in a trust fund friends set up for Roy at Umpqua Bank, he is able to live comfortably after the devastating fire.
Roy is adamant that he does not want another cat, although many people have offered. “I love pets, but I couldn”t bear to have anything happen to a cat again. There”s a black-and-white cat that runs around here sometimes that reminds me of Domino,” Roy said, tearing up. “You can see, that”s what really hurts me the most.”
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
