Get to Know Your Neighbor – Mr. W from Bayview

Mr. W’s grandparents moved to San Francisco from Arkansas in the 1940s. His grandfather found work as a bus driver, which was one of the two popular jobs of the times. The other was working in the shipyards.

Mr. W inherited his current home from his grandmother. It has a great view of the city below, which he loves. While he laments the crowdedness and high prices of the city, he still loves it, especially the mild climate. He has seen little change in his neighborhood over time, with many long time residents still inhabiting the street. He spent some time in Los Angeles after growing up here in San Francisco, but always decided to come back to the city.

 

An avid music fan, Mr. W has a giant poster of Bob Marley on his wall. He also enjoys relaxing with friends, going for walks, and spending time surfing social networking sites. Mr. W is a very outgoing and sociable person. He has fond memories of growing up playing basketball and riding his motorcycle. Mr. W has a 20-year-old son who lives in Arizona and a nine-year-old son who lives in Oakland. His mother lives above him in the second story of his home.

Mr. W was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in June of 2007 while working for the city of San Francisco Public Works Department. It came as quite a surprise to him, but he tries to stay positive and live day by day with his diagnosis. He tries to stay physically active and go for walks. His diagnosis was a life changing experience for him, but he has learned to appreciate life more now.

He really appreciates all the work that Rebuilding Together San Francisco has done for him, including installing a heater and grab bars, as well as doing general clean-up and other safety adjustments for him in his home. These have helped him a great deal in preventing falls and to feel more comfortable. He appreciates the time that the volunteer have taken to give him these “much needed and much appreciated” additions to his home.