Evicted at 80

KRISTIN BAUER

The Lacy's have a pet cat named Buddy whom they love dearly. John and Rene always said they would not trade their beloved pet and hide-and-go-seek partner even for $1,000. Initially while searching for a new apartment, John and Rene refused to move to a new apartment that would not let Buddy come with them.

KRISTIN BAUER

Rene, on her last day at her Silver Oaks apartment, before being admitted into the hospital.

After becoming sick, Rene's aid suggested she visit the hospital. Her antibiotics were not helping her recover, and she was admitted for pneumonia.

KRISTIN BAUER

John checks on his wife Rene, on her last day at home.

KRISTIN BAUER

John called Rene each night to tell her he loves her and to have a goodnight while she was in the hospital.

KRISTIN BAUER

John worried about Rene when she was admitted to the hospital. He said he was worried about her, and he didn't know what he would do if anything were to happen.

KRISTIN BAUER

John plays with Buddy frequently, and enjoyed Buddy's company while Rene was in the hospital, missing from her usual chair.

KRISTIN BAUER

John told Rene he loved her before she passed away on Monday, September 19. These were his last words to her before she passed away later that night when he briefly left the hospital to take his medication.

KRISTIN BAUER | DAILY KENT STATER

John had to move out of his Silver Oaks apartment the day after his wife passed away. John and Rene originally planned to move to another apartment together after leaving Silver Oaks. However, since Rene passed away, John forfeited his security deposit for his new apartment and moved in with his daughter in Ravenna, Oh. Rene's walker was one of the last things removed from the living room of their Silver Oaks apartment. Jon passed away only months later.

Not every story has a happy ending, and not every picture is easy to see. But, it is when we become uncomfortable, we respond and react to the injustices faced by others.

“What allows me to overcome the emotional obstacles inherent in my work, is the belief that when people are confronted with images that evoke compassion, they will continue to respond, no matter how exhausted, angry or frustrated they may be.” – James Nachtwey

John and Rene Lacy were just two of many Silver Oaks residents given eviction notices in July of 2011. More than 200 senior residents had roughly two months to vacate their homes. These residents were living in handicapped accessible and rent controlled apartments for decades.

John, 83, and Rene, 88, had lived at Silver Oaks for 14-years and were married for 45. Rene became stressed with the pressure of being evicted and having to look for another rent-controlled apartment with first floor handicapped accessibility. She later became sick with pneumonia and was hospitalized shortly after being faced with the tall task of moving-- she died Monday, Sept. 19 at 8:45 p.m. Her husband, Jon, believes the stress of the move contributed to her death:

“I don’t know what I’d do without her,” John said at the beginning of her hospital stay.

The Lacy’s had planned to move into another apartment, but after losing his wife, John and his cat Buddy moved to Ravenna to live with his daughter. Jon passed away only months later.

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