Michael O’Callaghan, an 81-year-old Portland activist, was struck and killed by a MAX train on Wednesday in Southeast Portland, as confirmed by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
O’Callaghan, who grew up primarily in Oregon and spent decades in Alaska, dedicated his later years to advocating for the unhoused in Portland.
He previously ran for mayor of Portland in two separate elections, in 2020 and 2024, focusing his campaigns on affordable housing and homelessness.
With 658 votes in 2020 and 980 votes in 2024, O’Callaghan’s commitment to these issues remained unwavering throughout his activism.
The Anchorage Daily News highlighted him in 2020 as one of Anchorage’s most distinctive activists, noting his diverse range of causes and his colorful personality as a political gadfly.
O’Callaghan was known for his innovative approaches to social issues, such as his attempt to establish a bike-share program in Anchorage during the 1970s, long before Portland launched its Yellow Bike Project.
In 1986, he successfully convinced a local supermarket to donate expired, but still consumable food, thereby diverting approximately 450,000 pounds of food from landfills for those in need.
Among his most unconventional ideas was a proposal in 1988 to pad train engines to protect wildlife like moose from fatal collisions.
“This was his way, his style of going about things,” commented historian David Reamer.
Although some of O’Callaghan’s ideas strayed from conventional thinking, they reflected his deep dedication to his various causes.
In 1990, he made an unsuccessful bid for governor of Alaska, earning only 0.4% of the vote, and his educational background included a graduation from Tigard High School in 1961 and attendance at Oregon State University.
Additionally, he participated in the Peace Corps, illustrating his commitment to service.
O’Callaghan returned to Oregon from Alaska in the mid-2000s and continued his activism in Portland, notably aiding in the establishment of the Right 2 Dream Too camp.
In 2012, he even went so far as to sue the city of Portland regarding its anti-camping ordinance, reflecting his commitment to advocate for the homeless community.
At the time, O’Callaghan was living in a shed beneath the Ross Island Bridge and criticized the city’s policy of authorizing workers to seize the belongings of individuals living outside.
He described this practice as “kick the dog syndrome,” illustrating his fight for the marginalized.
Zack Reinhardt, an employee at Splendid Cycles near the Springwater Corridor bike path, remarked that O’Callaghan was a prominent figure in Southeast Portland.
Despite living on the fringes, Reinhardt described him as a “living example of kindness and generosity.”
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when O’Callaghan was riding his bike. A westbound Union Pacific train caused traffic barriers at Southeast Division Street and Eighth Avenue to come down.
After the train passed, O’Callaghan attempted to cross but was struck by an eastbound Orange Line MAX train around 1:30 p.m., according to TriMet.
TriMet released a statement expressing condolences, stating, “This is a tragic incident and a very difficult situation for everyone involved. Our thoughts are with the cyclist, our operator, and those who witnessed the incident.”
O’Callaghan is survived by four children and his death marks the 14th traffic-related death in Portland this year.
image source from：oregonlive
