SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – A man many knew as the ultimate Oakland sports "super fan" and community organizer has died.
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Greg "Griz" Jones, founder of Forever Oakland, passed away on Wednesday.
Jones had been battling cancer "for some time," Forever Oakland's Christopher Leighton said in a post, describing "a huge outpouring of emotional support, well wishes and just overall love since the news broke."
Jones founded Forever Oakland, a charitable organization billing its mission as spreading a "message of hope and compassion" through "advocacy and outreach activities." The group launched in 1999 feeding the homeless near 66th Avenue and Coliseum Way in Oakland the night before Raiders games.
Over the years, Forever Oakland grew into a group focused laser focused on community improvement across Oakland, hosting various activities including trash collection, tailgates, fundraisers and youth engagement.
"Griz Jones was Oakland to the bone," Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf told KCBS Radio on Wednesday. "More than a die-hard sports fan, Griz built a community – and put that community to work in service of Oakland. Love, respect, and gratitude to Griz's family and the 66th Street Mob. Oakland Forever!"
To say Jones was dedicated would be an understatement.
KCBS Radio's Matt Bigler caught up with Jones outside of the Oakland Coliseum as he tailgated ahead of John Madden's public memorial service.
Leighton has launched a GoFundMe to help pay for Jones' funeral expenses.
"I could go on with stories about him as well have so many others out there, but for now let's do for Griz what he did for so many over the 20+ years and give back to him," he said.
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