Portland man fatally stabbed on train remembered as hero

MILWAUKIE, Ore. – Mourners remembered one of the men who was fatally stabbed trying to stop an anti-Muslim tirade against two teenage girls on a Portland light-rail train as a modern-day martyr and a hero who never stayed on the sidelines when others were in need.

At the funeral Monday of Ricky Best, 53, one of his teenage sons, Erik Best, said his father understood deeds were more important than words, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive . He said his father was a "child of God."

Best, an Army veteran who worked for the city of Portland, also leaves behind a wife, two other teen sons and a 12-year-old daughter.

Prosecutors say Jeremy Joseph Christian killed Best, another man and wounded a third when they tried to stop Christian from verbally assaulting the girls, one of whom wore a Muslim head covering.

Christian, 35, faces aggravated murder and other charges in the case. He has not yet entered a plea and has a court hearing later this week.

At Best's funeral, the Rev. Rick Paperini used the word "martyr" to describe Best's actions.

"It is a privilege to love," Paperini said. "I think Ricky understood love this way. He saw it as an opportunity and a privilege, and that's why he responded the way he did on the 26th of May, 2017."

Archbishop Alexander K. Sample described the actions of those who stood up on that train as "an amazing demonstration of human love and dignity and respect for another."

Sample said that he was "proud that a member of our own Catholic community here in the Portland area really witnessed to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to love another as we love ourselves as our Savior taught."

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and at least one of the two young women targeted on the train attended the Best's funeral, which came a day after hundreds gathered near a pro-President Donald Trump free speech rally, saying they wanted to make a stand against hate and racism. Fourteen people were arrested.

Best will be buried with military honors at Willamette National Cemetery.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com