The last few months have been difficult for 56-year-old LaMarion Spence. The beloved Healdsburg resident since 1999 and founder of Seeded Juice Company has been battling lung cancer for years, and the fight has intensified in recent weeks.
Farmers market regulars likely noticed that he stopped manning his booth there this fall. The truth: He can’t move much at all anymore.
Amazingly, remarkably, and unbelievably, really, Spence’s spirits remain positive, buoyed in part by the endless stream of kindness and giving from members of our community. Last year residents put together a GoFundMe to help Spence defray some of his astronomically expensive medical bills. Since then, about a dozen local business owners also have gone out of their way to make sure Spence doesn’t have to worry about basic necessities, and that he knows they appreciate him.
Shane McAnelly, chef at Chalkboard and The Brass Rabbit, is one of these donors, preparing for Spence and his family delicious food to eat when Spence was laid up at Sutter Medical Center last month. McAnelly sent the food over free of charge, just because he figured Spence and his family likely needed it.
“I don’t know him that well, but I know he’s always smiling and doing nice things for people and trying to make this town a better place to live,” says McAnelly. “For that reason alone, I just wanted to help.”
Other chefs at different restaurants around town have performed similar gestures. Dino Bugica and the gang at Diavola in Geyserville have fed Spence for free, and Spence hasn’t gotten bills for his food at Healdsburg Bar & Grill in months.
Elsewhere around town, other vendors have pitched in, too. Robert and Terri Barbera, owners of Aladdin Cleaners, have done all of Spence’s dry cleaning gratis for most of this year. Steve Perkins at Digital Xpress (formerly Amoruso Printing), has given Spence a deal on mail, and has been more than happy to work with Spence’s friends who come by to get it.
Steve Dubois at the Plaza Barbershop has been cutting Spence’s hair all year, and the barber has bristled every time Spence has even mentioned forking over some dough. Erin Gore, founder of the Garden Society, gave him a literal box-load of her edible cannabis products during a painful week.
Even local hoteliers have helped Spence and his family—both the Hotel Trio and Madrona Manor put up some of Spence’s loved ones when they came to see him in the hospital.
The list could go on and on.
As Spence notes, it could include the “efforts of countless friends who have kept me laughing,” The bottom line: LaMarion Spence is a man who matters to a whole lot of people in this town, and a big part of our community has come together to show him how much.
Kindness is contagious, and undoubtedly in the months and weeks ahead there will be other opportunities to celebrate the impact Spence has had on this community. Look for them. Seek them out. Get involved. Giving back is exactly what Spence would have done. That makes it a fitting way to pay homage to one of Healdsburg’s very best.
Matt Villano is a freelance writer. His column spotlights good people in the community doing great things. To learn more about him, visit whalehead.com.
