I met Devin 2 years ago and felt an immediate friendship blossoming with him. He was just one of those people you like instantly, something warm in his eyes, a kind soul. He was fortunate to have many friends and I understand why. He also has a precious daughter named Sailor which points to his time at sea. He moved here from the East Coast for many of the same reasons as I did. He loved that the city is bike friendly, has a concern for the environment, is a great place to raise a family and offers countless local food opportunities.
We began casually looking at homes and I looked forward to our time together. In the process, I was able to meet both of his parents, his brother Brad, Sailor and his sister Briana. They each have relocated to Portland drawn by both a desire to be close to Devin and a mutual love for the city. After meeting the family it was easy to see how Devin was such a likeable person. His family is just as charming, warm and fun. Devin passed away in July of this year and it was a huge shock to me and a tragic loss for his family.
After a time of mourning, Briana reached out to me to let me know that she was ready to plant some roots in Portland and purchase her first home. We looked at a good many homes, with the assistance of her sweet mom, Denise. We saw some losers, some almost winners and had a near miss or two. At about 6:00 one night, Denise sent me a text and said she had found the one on placePortland.com. “Can we go right now?” It was just listed hours earlier and none of us wanted to waste any time. We walked in the door with the entire family 30 minutes later and they said, “This is It. Do whatever it takes to get this one.” I gave them a strategy that I knew would likely seal the deal and sure enough, it worked.
I know Devin would be proud of his sister for loving this city and planting roots here for many years to come. Oftentimes in life, tragedy leads to a new beginning.
Chad Draper
503.927.6321