Roxy L. Neuhardt
August 26, 1935 - October 21, 2017
Roxy LeRoy Neuhardt, a longtime fixture in the Portland, Oregon LGBT community, died October 21. He was 82.
Mr. Neuhardt was born in Rexburg, Idaho, and raised in West Yellowstone, Montana. He began dancing at age 8. As a young man he owned three dance studios in Salt Lake City before moving to Las Vegas, where he was a featured dancer in Minsky's Follies at the Dunes Hotel and other resorts. In the early 1960s, he left Vegas to become assistant choreographer and featured performer for the Morro-Landis Production Company, before being recruited as choreographer and dancer for Gracie Hansen at the Hoyt Hotel in Portland.
Mr. Neuhardt then met and fell in love with Walter Cole, aka Darcelle XV, a popular drag queen in Portland. He is credited with creating the Darcelle XV persona for Cole, and spent more than 45 years as choreographer, show director, and featured performer at the Darcelle XV Showplace. He was also the bookkeeper, office manager, and payroll accountant.
Cole and Mr. Neuhardt spent nearly five decades building their business, raising funds for charities, and caring for friends living with, and dying from, HIV/AIDS.
The couple were world travelers. According to Mr. Neuhardt's online obituary, they were in Berlin the day the wall came down and went to many other countries.
Mr. Neuhardt received numerous awards over the years, and is the only crown prince of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court.
Mr. Neuhardt is survived by Cole and many other family members. To read the online obituary, visit http://omegaservices.com/obituaries/roxy-l-neuhardt/719/.
Arthur G. White
June 19, 1948 - November 27, 2017
Arthur George White was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948, the second of four children born to Frank and Elizabeth (Flaherty) White. He was a brilliant and precocious child. Always clever and quick-witted, he skipped a grade in St. Mary Magdalene Elementary School. Arthur graduated from Mater Christi High School in Astoria, New York.
After attending Queens College in New York, Arthur enlisted in the Army (Signal Corps) at age 19 and served two tours in Vietnam from 1967-69. He attended the University of Arizona, majoring in English literature. Arthur then earned his law degree at New College in San Francisco where he was chosen to be the valedictorian.
Arthur moved to San Francisco in 1973 and took several temporary jobs, saving money for law school. After practicing law for many years, Art opted to pursue his lifelong interest in real estate.
Arthur worked for several real estate firms in the East Bay before joining Red Oak Realty about 10 years ago. It was there that he found his professional home. A trifecta of talent, skill, and savvy insured his success, and he was tapped to become the managing broker. He later became sales manager at Red Oak's Berkeley office. Arthur excelled in the real estate industry and was a well-respected member of that community.
Arthur is survived by his loving partner of 12 years, Areal Alvarado, of Oakland; his sisters, Eileen and Marilyn of New York; and his brother, Richard, of New Hampshire. He also leaves behind his beloved feline companion of 18 years, Blondie, a Flame Point Siamese.
A funeral Mass and remembrance was held for Arthur at Most Holy Redeemer Church in the Castro December 9. A celebration of life is planned for February.