RIP Drake G. Okusako
fatality May 29th, 2009
The cyclist has been identified. He is Drake G. Okusako. He rode the 66 mile El Tour de Tucson in 2007 and appears to have coached a boy’s soccer team.
A tragic, awful story.
My condolences to his family and loved ones.
–Erik Ryberg
May 29th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Thank you, we appreciate your kind words. It hurts to lose a brother. His mother, still living, is having a hard time facing the fact that she has survived her youngest son.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Drake was a regular patron at the Himmel Park library, rode his bike everywhere and always wore his helmet, even as he used the library and coached.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Drake Okusako was my son’s soccer coach in the Randolf league 2000-2001. He was a very sweet man who rode his bike everywhere. He had no car. He used to pitch a small tent at soccer tournaments to house the things (paperwork, etc.) that others would keep in their cars.
May 30th, 2009 at 11:40 am
For years after my son Noah had him for a coach, we would always see him biking everywhere and my kids would yell “There goes Coach Oke!”
May 30th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Unbelievable. A 19-year-old kid, speeding and weaving through traffic. For what? After looking at his myspace page, I’m pretty sure he didn’t have any pressing responsibilities that would require him to drive with so little regard to those around him. This is so incredibly frustrating to me, and I’m only affected by it because I read this blog. My condolences to the Okusako family.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Sweet, sweet man. Drake Okusao was a soccer coach for both of my sons. His dedication to his team was second to none. With no children of his own, he would eat, drink and breathe soccer. He loved organizing tournaments, working tirelessly for fundraisers and encouraging each player to play his best. One of my favorite memories was how he always thanked the refs during games. It didn’t matter what the call was, whether it was against our team or theirs, Drake would always shout, “Thank you, ref” with a slight bow.
Although I am sure the heavens rejoice to welcome Drake home, I know the world he left behind is a poorer with the loss of such a selfless and kind-hearted soul.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I was so sad to hear about Drake, Chris. Reading these posts, it’s clear he touched many lives.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:48 am
I live across the street from where this happened and my family and I are just sick with how sad we feel for the Okusako family. We’re so sorry for your loss. We’ve walked on the Reid Park Bike Path safely hundreds of times… reckless acts like this just shouldn’t happen. Please accept our condolences, our thoughts are with you.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:57 am
Drake coached my son, Liam, for two years on the Randolph Apache soccer team. I knew Drake to be humble, friendly and persistent.
He would bike everywhere. During the winter months on Saturdays he would be up and riding across town in the dark and freezing pre-dawn on his bike loaded down with a large dufflebag of soccer balls, another bag with his coaching equipment and yet another bag with a pup-tent that he set up at the field’s edge to store his players’ soccer stuff. During the Summer months the boys could duck inside the tent for a couple minutes of shade and a drink.
Drake’s early morning rides were done in just a T-shirt. I asked him once if he didn’t get cold. He explained that he loved the cold weather and that he had been in the military and stationed in a northern US state (can’t remember which) and that he would stand out in the freezing cold for hours on end as part of his duty. He carried an old windbreaker with him in one of his bags and would put it on sometimes when it rained. You could always count on Drake to be the first to arrive and the last to leave a game.
I remember once after a game on the SE side of Tucson, Drake rode up to Oro Valley to check out another team that the Apaches would be playing later that month, studying their strengths and weaknesses, and just keeping up with former players he had coached in years past.
Drake did not appear to have much in the way of physical riches. He lived in an apartment and worked retail jobs or whatever came his way. What Drake had was some sort of undefinable Gandhi-like quality that you immediately recognized and respected.
When I first heard of the accident in the daily paper I was saddened. During that day I followed the updates and in the early evening I took Liam to the crash site which is near our home to demonstrate just how quickly and severely a person on a bike can be injured/killed. At that time we did not know it was Drake. We saw the vehicle skid marks. We saw the pink spray-painted markings on Alvernon that detained the terrible impact and the landing places of the bike, the body, the bike-lock and helmet. After that we went on a long ride through the University, downtown and returned via the southern side of Reid park. After arriving home a bit after 8 pm I checked the starnet site for any update and saw that it had been our old friend Drake who had died. I told Liam and he was choked up and silent–very sad and stunned.
Rest in Peace Drake
May 31st, 2009 at 9:01 am
Correction: last paragraph: change ‘detained’ to ‘detailed’
thx
May 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Drake used to come in to Wingspan to use the CyberCenter computers to check email or whatnot, and I don’t recall ever seeing him in a bad mood. I’d occasionally see him biking on Speedway or elsewhere in midtown. I hope some good can come of this senseless and stupid loss. Peace and condolences to his family and friends.
May 31st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Will there be any memorial service, Chris?
June 1st, 2009 at 4:05 pm
As President of Pima County Jr. Soccer League, I would like to send condolences to the family and tell them just how much Drake’s constant, quiet presence meant to us and the boys he coached. That a senseless moment could cost Drake his life is hard to believe. As a soccer community, I hope we’ll follow his example and take care of our players. As drivers, I hope we will always be aware that letting our attention wander can have tragic results. Hopefully, we’ll all share our love soccer with children and share the road carefully. Drake will be missed by many.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hello Stephanie Jackter, and thank you for your post. You were asking about a funeral, and so I will respond to that. I was with his mother Saturday and Sunday in Woodland, CA, and she cannot attend a funeral in Tucson. She is an 83 year old surviving lung cancer patient with limited mobility and could not make the trip. But you know what? The things people are saying here on the Bike Lawyer web page is as much a tribute to Drake as a physical gathering at a funeral would be. I will print all of these well thought out heartfelt comments and present it to his mother when I return from Arizona later this week. I know that the content of these pages will mean much to her because the stories that are here, she has never heard before. She will be proud and happy to know that he was loved and respected by others. In a very real way, you have brought the funeral to her and paid your respects to him. If there are more questions, I may not be able to make any replies for a while because I’m leaving for Arizona tonight and arriving on Wednesday. And unless I can find a place to wire my Mac, I will be blacked out. Thanks again for your support.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Chris,
If you need a place to stay or hang out during the day or even just a place to wire your Mac, my home is open to you any hour of the night/day.
I live a few blocks east of Alvernon and south of Broadway.
My cell is (520) 904-3055.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Hi again Chris, I received an email from Karen Hymer Thompson that the Randolph Soccer Club will plan a memorial service of some sort for Drake and will let us know when it gets firmed up. I imagine it would be held at some event during soccer season when all the soccer people are together. There’s a small memorial at the scene with some candles, flowers, and a soccer ball someone brought. Many of the walkers and bikers on the walking path have been stopping to pay their respects. I also live three blocks away if you need anything while you’re in town. ph. 520-603-1325. Take care.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
Stephanie: Thank you for finding out about the service. Please keep us posted.
Chris: Thank you for staying in touch with we Tucson folk. Although it looks like you have a couple of options for room and board, please know that it would be an honor to host you at my home. I live on the East side of town, Pantano and Wrightstown area. My cell phone is (520) 444-3132. Please call if you need anything while you are in town. And please offer my deepest sympathy to your mother. I have been sad for days as your brother Drake has been in my mind and heart and prayers.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 am
What a tragic loss! I remember Drake from the days that my son played soccer. Even though Drake was not his coach, he knew my son by name and always seemed to care how he was doing. I was so sad to hear of this accident.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I did not know Drake, but this horrible accident happened along my bike route. I stopped at his memorial this morning. I wish we could do so much more. There’s a walkway across Alvernon just south of where Drake was hit. Cars never stop. We should put in a light and make those cars stop! Pedestrians and bikers should rule! not irresponsible drivers with big metal machines. My thoughts are with his family, and will be every morning I ride.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Drake coached my 2 nephews (Ana’s sister), and I would like to say how very saddened I am by his senseless death. I’m also very grateful that he coached my nephews and left them with such a beautiful role model of support and sportsmanship. My deepest condolences to his family, as well as appreciation for nuturing a son and brother who was selfless in giving to our youth. God bless you.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I’m at a Motel 6 now in southern California on my way home. Drake liked camping and outdoor beauty so I said a prayer for him and released his ashes into a small stream at White Water near Palm Springs. It hurt like sixty to let him go, but I think he would have liked that. The day before I left Tucson, the Muldowneys arranged to pick up a ton of Drake’s soccer gear to be donated to the Randolph Soccer group. Thank you for your valuable help in both finding me at Fry’s and distributing the bags of gear. Today I visited the site where Drake died and took photographs of the little shrine volunteers erected for Drake. It was beautiful, and his mother will be so thankful, as am I! Thanks to all of you, Chris Okusako
June 4th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I have read so many heartfelt comments about Drake. It is very evident by the caring people he was surrounded by; that his life was full and also that he had touched many with his kindness.
I can only imagine the sorrow that is felt by the children, parents and friends that were a part of Drake’s life. All were fortunate to have know such a person.
My heartfelt condolences to my Aunt Rose, Chris & Cindy.
Please contact me if there is anything your family needs.
Cousin Steve
June 5th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
To the Okusako family,
I just discovered this web site and am so sorry I could not meet you, Chris, when you were in Tucson. Your brother touched my life, and many others, in his unique, quiet way. Your tribute to Drake in the Tucson newspaper was very touching. I was so impressed by your generous spirit as you thought of the young man who killed your brother. I guess I should not be surprised because I imagine Drake would have had similar thoughts. Please congratulate your mother on the wonderful job she did raising her two boys. You both are great role models for us all. Please give her heartfelt condolences from me and the Randolph Soccer Club family. We will keep you informed about the upcoming tribute to Drake. I will document it visually so your mother can experience it too. I can be reached at 520-240-7075.
Karen
June 5th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Thanks Karen, I know my mother will appreciate the documentation of the tribute to Drake. You can send any pictures or get word to me at: franko1758@aol.com
And thank you for the compliment and the phone number.
September 28th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I saw Drake just a few weeks before his death, He was around the university heading east.
I always remember what he told me ” You did good today pele”. those words made me know i was good enough. I loved Drake, i saw him riding alot. My dad actually past by on his work truck and saw his body, we didn’t know it was him until a week later. RIP Coach Oke.