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MISSING PILLAR Old sage. Christ-like. Community pillar. “I came into this town quietly and I want to leave quietly.” “It was a wonderful moment,” Helman reported, “because I got to look at John and say, ‘John, it’s not up to you.’” “He’s been there when things were needed and sometimes it was known and sometimes it wasn’t known – just the quiet support when it was necessary,” Bratton said. Roberts moved to Gunnison in 1987 after purchasing the car dealership, which now bares his name, at 231 W. Tomichi Ave. He worked in the auto industry for 46 years, six days a week, and raised three children with Lois. “The last two years, when everybody thought I retired, I did retire,’” he said with a barely conceivable smile. “I didn’t work Saturdays.” Roberts said Lois has been “marvelous” throughout all of it – as his support and “helpmate” for 48 years. Undying service Roberts grew up in Lincoln, Neb., and came to Colorado for its clean, dry air, since he suffered from asthma. Once in Gunnison, Roberts served as president of the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce and welcomed new businesses to town as a chamber member; he served on the Gunnison Valley Hospital (GVH) board, on the WSC President’s Advisory Council, its foundation board and challenge grant committee; he volunteered consistently as a member of the local Rotary club; he was a regular at high school and college sporting events; and he served on the elder board of Bethany Baptist Church – to name a few of his service roles. Tammy Scott, who directs the Gunnison chamber, said Roberts was integral to bringing complex issues to resolution. She recalled on time, shortly after she became director, that the board was in the midst of a “huge discussion” and Roberts said, “Let me play the devil’s advocate.” “Then, three sentences later, he fixed it,” she recalled. From there on out, that became a norm. “When John went off the board…I would call him up and say, ‘Can I talk to the devil’s advocate?’” she recalled. He hasn’t only offered time and wisdom to community causes, but also cash. Through the car dealership, he put together the WSC John Sievers Memorial Wrestling Scholarship, donated to Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy, 4-H, Cattlemen’s Days, Crested Butte Musical Festival, various college and high school academic and athletic programs, the Gunnison Arts Center … the list goes on and on. “We’re continuing the tradition,” he said earlier this week Marquez, who has worked at John Roberts Motor Works for 20 years, said he plans to keep the name and continue the Roberts’ way of doing business. “It’s been successful and we have a fantastic clientele base that extends beyond Gunnison County, “he said. While Roberts isn’t one to publicly highlight his faith, Lois said she believes that is what has driven him through all of his local civic actions. “I think this is a part of who he is – I think it’s his spiritual gift,” she said. “He’s a very caring individual.” Parting Words “Being in John’s little cubicle at the dealership made a person feel as though he were in the Oval Office, a part of basically every important thing that was happening in town or at the college, at the county courthouse, city hall. Community leaders were stopping in to talk, calling on the phone, basically asking John’s advice.” “His impact on our hospital board is immense. He’s kind of the old sage – you know everybody talks and talks … and after awhile you look over at John and he’s kind of sitting over there just tapping his fingers and then we say, ‘Okay John, what do you think?’ And then he gives us the advice.” “I have witnessed John Roberts’ kindness in this community for over 25 years. I see him as ‘the keeper’ of our community. His knowledge, advice, business savvy, spiritual support, altruism, volunteerism and general kindness will never be forgotten. And somehow I know that although you are leaving our little town, your giving will only continue and Grand Junction is so lucky to have.” “You all have seen that commercial when E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.’ Well John is very much that way. … When John spoke up, all the hospital board and all the management staff would immediately say, ‘something very important is being said.’” “Whenever I would try to pull people together to talk about difficult and contentious issues, and we would talk about whom we need to bring together, of course the name that always came up first was John Roberts, I think that all of us understood that in John’s heart what mattered most was the common good. “They (John and Lois) exemplify grace, graciousness and generosity and I think that Lois, in particular, has taught us that we should leave the world a little more beautiful than when we found it. “I couldn’t ask for a better boss. … You never worry about your job; you know that John would be there. If something happened to your family … you know he would do what he could to take care of you.” “John is probably one of the best friends I have. He is very concerned about always being fair. .. He took the yardstick and threw it away.” “Throughout the years, he’s been my boss, but he’s been my friend. And I think that’s true for everybody who works here.” “Words that popped into my mind when thinking about John: Wise; caring; insightful; calm; reflective; smart; cerebral; intelligent; modest; Generous – and I capitalized that one; giving; balanced; loyal; faithful; humble; and this is one that I personally appreciate greatly – non-judgmental – I think we could all learn from that; considerate compassionate; kind; understanding; and humility. “John you may have played the devil’s advocate for the chamber, but for me and so many other people, you were the heart of God.” “John Roberts is an oxymoron, he’s an honest car dealer and he’s one of the best people this town has ever seen.” My take on some news Lastly, it just wouldn’t be right to let a stalwart citizen like John Roberts exit this community without a grand and public thank you – even though we all know that’s the last thing he wants. In addition to offering our gratitude to him, it’s important to acknowledge the contributions of John because they provide such a remarkable example for those of us who follow in his footsteps. We’ve tried to encapsulate John’s contributions, in at least some small way, in today’s newspaper. John simply had a gift for quietly and selflessly doing good deeds for his fellow community members. It’s hard to top an example like that.
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