Kitchener icon 'Duff' remembered as kind, welcoming face downtown

The downtown Kitchener community is mourning the death of a beloved and familiar face.

"Duff," as he was known, was a fixture of the community for many years.

He was a regular at downtown hubs such as the Queen Street Commons Cafe and St. John's Kitchen, and was involved with many local organizations including The Working Centre.

Tessa Jennison, with Waterloo Region Crossing, said she was texting with Duff just two days before he died.

They were collaborating on the organization's upcoming trek in February. Jennison says she got to know Duff during an interview for a documentary last year.

"He talked to us for over two hours and showed us all of these different places downtown, anecdotes and stories, talking about his experiences and his life on the street," she said.

"He seemed to me to be someone who, despite the hardships of his life, was incredibly positive and very focused on using whatever limited resources and energy he had to help other people."

'Duff would give the shirt off his back'

Terre Chartrand was friends with Duff for over 12 years. She says he used to hand out food to people living downtown.

"He would distribute fresh fruit, of what he could find, which was such a boon to people who couldn't afford food," Chartrand said.

"Duff was a person who would readily share. And he would share anything, from a story to personal possessions. Duff would give the shirt off of his back, because he knew he could find a new shirt."

Chartrand says Duff was compassionate toward everyone, especially homeless people and youth downtown.

A natural leader

Duff, whose real name was Detlef Becker, spoke to CBC K-W last year about his struggles with homelessness and addiction.

He also shared his story as part of the Waterloo Region Friends of Crime Prevention human book club.

Christiane Sadler, the executive director of the Crime Prevention Council, says she first got to know Duff on her daily walks to work.

They quickly got to talking every day, and he would introduce her to his friends and people living on the street.

"He reaffirmed for me what I've really known all along and I try to remind myself everyday, that community change and good change comes from all corners of the community," Sadler said.

"It doesn't have to be the professionals, in fact it's often the what I call natural leaders. And I would see Duff as a natural leader."

Members of the community are organizing events in Duff's memory in the coming weeks, including a community barbecue at the Kitchener Farmer's Market and a memorial at St. John's Kitchen.