Hi. With a little help from friends I get by.
by
on 05-05-2007 at 05:15 AM (1212 Views)
Bon Jour Brochure.
("If I knew where it began and ended, I'd put everything else in the middle". - R.W. Emerson.)
Since much of my life and character has been and continues to be, under siege, as you will see. Here's a few brief, opening dissertations about me. Character references will be interspersed throughout my tentatively endless blog - from and about which Readers may draw their own conclusions.
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April 5, 2004
To whom it may concern,
My name is Mark S. Halfon and I have known Kent Robertson for more than thirty years. We were neighbors in San Francisco in the early 1970’s and have remained friends through the years. Although we lost contact for quite a while, our friendship has recently been rekindled. Kent is a remarkable individual in many ways. He has a sense of justice that has been at the core of his life. I have always known Kent to be a man of integrity. He cares deeply about the most vulnerable among us – children and women.
Kent’s character is best captured by events that have occurred in his life. I recall one incident when Kent visited my home in Brooklyn. Late at night he heard a woman scream, and he immediately went outside to ensure that the woman was not being victimized. It turns out that she was screaming in jest, but Kent didn’t know that as he went to her defense (against a small phalanx of men at about 3:AM on a Brooklyn side street). Unfortunately there are no "Good Samaritan" laws in the United States, but they wouldn’t be needed if our citizenry exhibited the concern for others that has been the centerpiece of Kent’s life.
There is nothing I prize more than my children. When Kent was visiting my home, he would baby-sit for my son Jesse. Although I was aware of accusations against Kent, I knew that my child was in good hands. It should be noted that Kent has the capacity to become deeply angry at those he perceives to be unjust. His anger can manifest itself as heated rhetoric, but fortunately rhetoric alone is no crime. Despite Kent’s anger and rage at others, I believe he has always controlled his behavior.
He is not aggressively dangerous; he is defensively formidable. Never have I witnessed a moment of violence from a man whom I have known for more than three decades. His words may offend people. His presence, particularly his intellect and unexpected wide spectrum knowledge, may intimidate people. But I see a kind and compassionate human being whose friendship I cherish.
Mark S. Halfon
Associate Professor and Chair
Philosophy Department
Nassau Community College
(Ph. Work: 1-516-572-8013
Home: 1-718–856-8177
Madprof21@optonline.net)
_____
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Patrick Wehner and I was Ben Robertson’s Landlord for a period of about 5 years from 1999 to 2004. Ben lived in an apartment complex in Santa Cruz (CA) owned partially by my Mother which I manage.
In the entire time I have been Manager I have never heard of or observed Ben committing any violent act.
Ben and I became friends over the years and he assisted me in various ways to create a good living environment for the other tenants at the 8 unit complex.
In that entire time I never received a valid complaint regarding Ben. At the very beginning of my tenure as manager there was one tenant who had a slight problem with noise, but in my investigation of this complaint I believe this was a problem with the complaining party not having good people skills and Ben cooperated in resolving the matter. Soon after this complaint the other tenant moved in with her family and I thereafter Ben had a good relationship with the rest of the tenants.
I consider Ben a man of his word and a reliable individual. I would rent to him again in a heartbeat.
Sincerely,
Patrick Wehner
pat@sterling-gc.com
ph: 1-408-489-1374
1566 Sabina Way
San Jose, CA 95118
________________
11/8/04 Monday
TO WHOMEVER IT MAY CONCERN:
My name is Yevonne SueEllen Young; age 57, mother of three adult daughters; grandmother to five of their children. The number of which was six, until my seventeen year old grandson, Justin, was murdered without provocation by a young man - under the influence of alchohol and cocaine - wielding a baseball bat; May, 2001, in Corralitas, California.
I have known Kent Benjamin Robertson ('Ben'/'Robby) for nearly 13 years. All of which time neither of us were married.Our relationship was always non-conjugal but progressively initmate and personal. We both have - are medically diagnosed with - chronic, severe post traumatic stress disorder and are compensated for it with SSI disability payments and medicare.
Sanction.
Protection.
Accompanies myself and my daughters to our cars when we depart. Insists on doing chores. Generosity, sharing. Non-intimidation. Comforting. Advisory.
Non violence, non threatening.
I suffer from diagnosed PTSD for which I am compensated with SSI disabiity payments and MEDICARE (Medical) - none of which I would ever have received, were it not for the guidance and encouragement of Mr. Robertson, who helped me repeatedly with my claim for disability, which was denied twice, until Mr. Robertson's gentle tenacity and patient guidance inspired me to resist severe depression long enough to perservere and go on to win my third application for comensation for a post traumatic stress disorder claim. My former fiance, Peter Ernst Witting - a distinguished Vietnam Vet (Huey 6 Doorgunner), and affluent native of Germany (become an American citizen by serving in the U.S. Army), committed suicide on 6 June, 1981, in his middle class home in Capitola Californiaa, by gunshot wound to the head, before my eyes, three days before our scheduled marriage.
I also suffered a broken back when a runaway - unoccupied - car near my workplace, rolled down a hill and plowed through a group of paralegals, lawyers, judges and legal secretaries - including myself - in an outside conference gathered in a parking lot at the place of my employment, a large legal office in Santa Cruz California, November 1980.
Two of my three daughters Katarina and Carrie were nearly perished in two different automobile accidents. They live in nearby Boulder Creek and Santa Cruz, CA. I commute from my sister. Barbara's house in Modesto, CA.. My elderly father, Henry, passed away suddenly in 2000, and I took care of my Mother, Phylis, until she passed on at her house in Fresno, in 2003. I mention all this history because Mr. Robertson played an important part in sheltering, comforting and advising me in these troubled time. I have a long history of severe depression associated with head pain; due to head injuries acquired before and as a result of being hit and run over by driverless car of earlier mention.
I occasionally commute to Australia to visit my daughter, Kimberly, and my son-in-law. I also have, over the years, since '91, found much needed sanctuary and serenity in Mr. K. B. Robertson's home, which was then at 114 and 116 Maple Streets, Santa Cruz, CA. 95060.
I got to know several of his neighbors and his landlord, all of whom, like myself, were impressed with Mr. Robertson's simple honesty, integrity, spiritually uplifting countenance and 'survival imparted' sense of humor'.
I have read that the character of a person is tested and best observed under conditions of stress, hardship or emergency. Mr. Robertson's character meets, and I say generally transcends those standards and stated circumstances.
He has authored many small press published and sold out essays, anthologies and books, many of which I personally and several of my friends have read and am invariably impressed with. He studies information resources on causes and effects of domestic violence and global war - having since childhood an interest inderstanding and quelling such social turmoil and consequent, avoidable human suffering; perhaps mostly because, as he has confided to me, his genetic father was an extrememly violent and cruel man - especially toward his mother, his two elder brother and himself.
My daughter Kimberly lives in Australia with her husband. With the exception of Kimberly - myself and my two daughters, Katarina & Carrie have experienced a collective of several divorces caused by abusive male partners; causing us to be guarded relative to men in general. After several years of all of us becoming increasingly more knowledgeable of 'Ben', we realized that he is not dominating, condescending, selfish or intimidating as the former husbands of myself and two of my three daughters were.
Mutual confidence in one another, including my three adult daughters.
Sincerely,
Yevonne SueEllen Young
_____
August 28th, 2004
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is in reference to Mr. Kent B. Robertson. We are the owners of Zachary’s Restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz, California. For over a decade Mr. Robertson lived in an apartment complex directly across the street from the restaurant. During this time he frequented Zachary’s almost daily, and over this time we developed a positive relationship. He was unfailingly courteous, friendly, and never failed to pay his bill.
Zachary’s is the sort of friendly, downtown family establishment in which regulars become quite familiar, and Ben certainly fits that description. Over the years the Zachary’s family got to know Ben quite well, and always enjoyed seeing him. We miss his patronage, and his unique brand of conversation, since he’s moved to the East Coast.
We would welcome any inquiries regarding Ben’s character with which we might be of any help. Please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely Catherine J. Kriege, Thomas L, Watson
Owners, Zachary’s Restaurant
819 Pacific Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-0646
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