North Beach residents packed into Caffé Trieste on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life of Stuart Jackson, an artist and neighborhood fixture who died in December. Jackson, 74, was a regular at North Beach haunts like Trieste, Vesuvio, Spec's and Stella Pastry, where he would often draw sketches of fellow patrons. 

Jackson died on December 13th, succumbing to his injuries a week after a brutal, unprovoked attack at Market and Van Ness. Collin White, 38, of San Francisco, has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, as well as other charges, in the case.

Jack Hirschman, San Francisco Poet Laureate Emeritus, acted as emcee for the memorial. “This is a celebration of the life of a wonderful artist we all knew and loved,” he said before reading a poem he wrote, “A Poet Trait of Stuart Jackson.” In the poem, Hirschman describes Jackson as someone that “when you didn’t know he was there, he was always there.” When he concluded, he presented a handwritten copy of the poem to Jackson's family.

Jack Hirschman speaks at the memorial. 

Jackson was someone who was “full of love,” said District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who noted that the late artist encouraged him during his run for Supervisor last year. Peskin adjourned the last Board of Supervisors meeting, on January 12th, in Jackson's honor; archived comments are to be sent to his family as official condolences.

Aaron Peskin speaks at the memorial.

“If Stuart were alive, he would have probably been drawing me standing here,” said SFPD Central Station Capt. David Lazar. “Stu made tremendous contributions to the neighborhood. On behalf of all of the men and women who serve out of Central Station, we send our condolences. He was a part of North Beach and we want people to know that we are part of it as well.” (Lazar said he was not able to comment on the case or White's arrest.)

SFPD Captain Lazar and Supervisor Peskin offer condolences to Bob Jackson.

Bob Jackson, Stuart Jackson’s brother, was in attendance, and while he didn’t stand up to speak, a microphone was passed to him at his table. “Thank you for coming and celebrating Stu’s life,” he said. “He was a good guy and a good friend… and I appreciate the police for apprehending the son-of-a-bitch that killed him.”

Editor's note: White is still only a suspect in the case, and has not been convicted.