Originally published July 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 12, 2008 at 2:20 PM

Vigil shines light on fatal traffic circle attack

It took the death of James Paroline, beaten by a stranger while watering traffic-circle vegetation, to electrify the upper Rainier Beach neighborhood into action.

By Jonathan Martin

Seattle Times staff reporter

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ROSS MANTLE / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Earl Spradling comforts his wife, Carol, during a candlelight vigil Friday in memory of James Paroline at the intersection of South Cooper Street and 61st Avenue South in Rainier Beach. Wednesday night, Paroline was assaulted by a stranger in a dispute over orange construction cones Paroline had set up in the street.

ROSS MANTLE / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Pat Todhunter visited the memorial set up in the traffic circle her friend tended for years. "He was quite the gardener," she said of Paroline.

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James Paroline would have been ecstatic. On Friday night, the traffic circle he tended for years was bursting with roses, dahlias, daisies and fuchsias.

The display was so vivid it seemed to act as a magnet: 100 or more neighbors ringed the traffic circle and sang "This Little Light of Mine," held hands, laughed at toddlers underfoot and swapped stories.

It took Paroline's death Thursday night — the day after the 60-year-old was beaten by a stranger while watering — to electrify the upper Rainier Beach neighborhood into action. Friday's sunset vigil was used to organize neighborhood block watches to improve the sense of safety that was undermined by Paroline's beating.

"What we do after today will determine what we do to ensure this man's legacy goes forward," said Yolanda Gill Masundire, who lives nearby.

On Friday, police were still seeking the man who punched Paroline, knocking him to the ground.

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