John Breaux

The cycling community installed a ghost bike for John at the site where he was killed. It lasted three days until it was removed.

from an article in the Denver Post:

He dedicated much of his life to putting a smile on the faces of others through small acts of kindness — an "angel on earth," some said.

But John Breaux, who often rode his bicycle through Lafayette and Louisville picking up trash, died Friday after being struck by the car of a Boulder woman who veered onto the side of the road where Breaux was walking.

The news stunned the community, where Breaux, 57, had been a fixture for eight years.

Hundreds of people turned out at a memorial for Breaux on Saturday night in the parking lot of the Albertsons grocery store at U.S. 287 and South Boulder Road in Lafayette.

The site of the accident was marked by flowers and hand-lettered signs.

"He was always picking up trash and cans and he one time said he moved away from California because it was always so dirty," said Heather Luginbill, who met Breaux during her sophomore year at Centaurus High School.

"He loved it here so much and he didn't want Colorado being dirty like that. That's why he'd go around and pick up all the trash and the cans because he wanted the area looking beautiful."

Mary Jo Anne Thomas, 62, has been charged by the Lafayette Police Department with vehicular homi cide and driving under the influence of drugs in connection with Breaux's death.

Thomas was being treated Saturday at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, Lafayette police said. Once released from the hospital, Thomas will be transported to Boulder County Jail.

Breaux was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in his early 20s, according to The (Boulder) Daily Camera. While living with his parents in Sacramento, he was on medication and visited therapists regularly.

After his parents' deaths in 2000, Breaux moved in with his brother David Bright and his family and stopped taking the drugs.

Since then, the bearded, happy man opened doors for people going into stores, picked up trash, gave out birthday presents and generally had a smile and nice word for anyone he came into contact with.

"If I was half the man he was, God, I'd be happier," Bright told the Camera.

At one point, the city of Louisville gave Breaux a bike helmet for protection, and three years ago a "mayoral proclamation" was issued in "appreciation for his efforts to keep Louisville a clean city," according to the Camera.

Family and the community hope to come up with a permanent memorial in Breaux's honor.

For more on memorials set up for John and the outcome of the case against the driver that hit him go here