Man of the streets: Marshall Street regular Gertis McDowell looks for spare change from students and residents to pay bills

April 24, 2008

— Will Halsey

You may know Gertis McDowell by the sound of his bucket jingling with coins or his calls for spare change. Chances are, if you walk near the corner of Marshall Street near Starbucks, you have seen McDowell. He is a 61-year-old Syracuse resident and lives south of the university in Brighton Towers, an assisted-living community. McDowell is restricted to his wheelchair because of an incident that occurred years ago.

In a bizarre accident, McDowell fell five stories to the ground from a YMCA fire escape. Upon landing, he used his forearms to protect his head as he fell face down. He was sent to the Upstate Medical University where doctors reconstructed his knees, pelvis and arms. To this day McDowell is unable to perform simple tasks such as putting on his socks or making breakfast. McDowell often tells stories of his youth in Birmingham, Ala., where he grew up.

Now he’s here, occupying the corner of Marshall Street at Starbucks, willing to make friends with anyone who passes by. Without any family nearby, everyone and anyone entering and exiting the campus is a potential friend. And that’s how he likes it.

‘People treat me lovely,’ McDowell said. ‘No one shows disrespect. I love to meet all of the people on Marshall.’



McDowell talked of love, relationships, travel and adventure in his past, but now reflects on those memories while in his motorized wheelchair. He is ailed by the leftover side effects of his surgery in addition to diabetes and arthritis. McDowell injects himself twice daily with medicine for his diabetes and says he has to always watch what he eats.

McDowell is recognized by many on Marshall Street, and he said most people are nice to him. He knows many of the town officials because of all the time spend on street corners downtown.

At the end of his day, McDowell takes his money downtown to the bank where he changes it to cash or puts it in savings. From there he sometimes goes shopping for groceries, while other times he saves the money to pay his bills. McDowell receives a monthly check but says it does not cover the expenses he has to pay. He maintains he does not ask for people to feel sorry for him; that this is the hand he was dealt by God, and he will play that hand till the end. Until then, he will be out on the corner of Marshall Street, asking for some spare change.

‘I do what I can to get by,’ McDowell said. ‘What do they say? ‘Like a rock in a hard place?’ I do what I can to keep pluggin’ away. The people help me out.’

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