Karl Paige's son, Rene, took this picture of his "Pop" just a week before Karl died. Karl is standing in front of the newly completed mural image of himself. Behind his head is a square that had been left blank for a welcoming message like Welcome to the Quesada Gardens. When the community gathered to mourn and celebrate Karl just two days after he passed, Santie Huckabie had lettered an in memoriam to Karl in that space.

Mr. Karl is in our garden still. Just like the Canary Island Date Palms that stand with us, protect us, keep our community beautiful. He is with us.

The Paige family has asked that any donations go toward funeral expenses, and that they be made as soon as possible. Call 415.822.8082, email jeffrey@quesadagardens.org, or send a check to "Quesada Gardens Initiative" noting "Karl," 1747 Quesada Avenue SF CA 94124

Services for Karl Paige are scheduled at Duggan's Funeral Home
17th Street and Valencia in San Francisco's Mission District
11am Monday (service)

Comments about Karl and what he meant to you are welcome here. They will be added to a "memory book" for the family.

See Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle article about Karl here.

And this lovely Letter to the Editor from Jodell Scott:

Constant gardener
Editor - I had the pleasure of talking to Karl Paige ("Memorial for the constant gardener of Quesada Ave.," Aug. 15) on a beautiful Bayview morning about a year ago. I was appraising a property on the block, and I stopped to talk and admire the garden. I was uplifted by Karl's energy, and I could see that garden was representative of his deep, sweet spirit. There has not been a time that I have driven down Third Street (to the ballgame or on another job), when I don't think about him.

I was so lucky to have met him. Thanks, Karl.

JODELL SCOTT

San Francisco