CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The Centennial community is remembering the beloved life that was lost after an auto-pedestrian crash on Monday.
Just inside the entrance to a Starbucks store off Arapahoe Road and Holly Street, a brown leather chair is overflowing with flowers, cards, and teddy bears. The memorial is one of at least three scattered across the Arapahoe Marketplace Shopping Center, where 62-year-old Garth Donato was a familiar face.
Donato was killed early Monday morning on Arapahoe Road while pushing his shopping cart across the street, according to friends. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said the driver remained on scene.
Starbucks memorial for Garth Donato
"I saw all these police vehicles here, and then I saw his cart, and I lost it,” said Diane Rink, a friend of Donato's. “I’m like ‘No, not Garth, no!’”
Another memorial near the site of his death takes the form of a shopping cart, reminiscent of the one Donato used to push around, now brimming with mementos honoring his memory.
"It's an empty feeling to not see Garth in the morning. We all expected to see him Monday morning, and he was gone," said Jerry Lips, who remembered seeing Donato almost every morning while he grabbed coffee.
Shopping cart memorial for Garth Donato
Friends say Donato had access to a condominium, but chose to live outside, often spending hours each day at that Starbucks. Rink said she would often buy him coffee or food, but said Garth was known for helping others experiencing homelessness in the area with anything he had left over.
As preparations are made for Donato's memorial event, scheduled for Sunday, the community continues to reflect on his legacy of kindness and compassion. Rink, who is helping organize the tribute along with other Starbucks employees, emphasized the profound impact Donato had on those around him.
“Everybody knew him,” said Rink. “It is just a great remembrance of a man in a community that was loved so much.”
The memorial, set to begin at 2 p.m., will be held outside of the Starbucks, where organizers expect a large turnout. Additionally, a vigil will be held later that evening at 7 p.m., providing an opportunity for further reflection and remembrance.
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