Cyclist killed in East York.
East York resident Jack Roper, 84, who died after he and a car collided while he was cycling on Friday, Aug. 5, is being remembered fondly by his many friends in the community.
Photo/COURTESY
Jack Roper had complained about traffic problems at East York's Greenwood Avenue and Plains Road intersection.
On Friday, Aug. 5, the 84-year-old cyclist collided with a car and was killed at that very spot.
Roper was the patriarch of a coffee group that met every morning at Karma Kafe on Coxwell Avenue.
"We would often talk about the traffic," said Helen Sutherland, adding motorists not stopping at a stop sign at Greenwood and Plains was among the issues discussed.
Sutherland said members of the group often urged Roper to wear a helmet while cycling but he wouldn't listen.
"He was very stubborn about that," she said. "I don't know if it would've helped him, but we really wished he would have (listened)."
Sutherland and Roper became friends after meeting at Karma Kafe 10 years ago.
"He was a funny guy. What a character he was. He had so many great stories," Sutherland said. "We're really missing him a lot."
Roper, a Second World War veteran, recently told the group about how the Salvation Army helped people during the war. After the story, the group donated $255 to the charity.
Born in England, Roper joined the British Army towards the end of the Second World War. He worked as a mailman when he moved to Toronto.
Donna Brooks, a friend, said Roper cycled every day and worked out at a gym regularly.
"He was the best-shaped man I ever met for an 84-year-old. He could've lived to 100," she said. "This is such an untimely death for such a really unique person."
Roper was riding his grey and purple bicycle westbound on Plains, on his way to a grocery store, when a 2007 Toyota Corolla heading south on Greenwood collided with him at 9:02 a.m.
Roper was thrown onto the car's hood and then rolled off, coming to rest underneath the vehicle.
He was taken to St. Michael's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 10 a.m.
The motorist, an 81-year-old man, wasn't hurt.
Brooks said she saw Roper at Karma Kafe just 10 minutes before the accident.
"It was a very jovial, friendly morning with him," she said. "One of the last things that was said to him was that he was the patriarch of the whole group and that he will last forever."
Brooks noted Roper read everyone's horoscope each morning.
Police closed the Greenwood and Plains intersection for several hours as they investigated.
"We all knew that the street was blocked off but we never knew till later why," Brooks said.
No funeral will be held because Roper wanted to be cremated with no fuss.
However, friends and family will hold a memorial at Karma Kafe (1028 Coxwell) at 2 p.m. Aug. 21.
The cycling community will also honour Roper. Members of Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists will meet at Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue at 8 a.m. Friday (Aug. 12). They will ride to the accident scene where they will hold a memorial.
The collision occurred a day after a two-day traffic blitz on nearby Danforth Avenue.
Const. Derek Mole of 54 Division said 303 tickets were issued to cyclists during the enforcement campaign, which police hoped would reduce the number of collisions in the area.
The tickets were for moving violations like running a red light and equipment violations like having no horn or bell.
Witnesses to the fatal collision are asked to call police at 416-808-1900.
Roper leaves behind his sons Shane and Christopher, granddaughter Sarah and a great granddaughter Katie.