Dorothy Roth Loftus: pioneer of the frozen North

“Ice filled the corners of their home, and long lines of frost ‘like railroad tracks’ could be seen along the dining room and sitting room walls where the logs met. Nearly all the nail heads in the walls looked ‘like a white Russian fur cap’ because they were tipped with frost.”

David Loftus, host of “Story Time for Grownups,” reads excerpts from a work in progress about his grandmother’s life in Alaska Territory between 1906 and 1947: stories in her own words about walking to school in 40-below weather, and her future husband’s work on the Alaska Railroad and fishing for cod in a one-man dory in the Bering Sea.

True stories from this amazing woman’s life will be presented at Rose City Book Pub, Portland’s first and only combination used bookstore and taproom. No cover. Order a pint of beer, a pot of tea, soup, sandwich, or cookies while you enjoy the old-fashioned experience of listening to tales read aloud, like your parents did for you (if you were lucky). Browse the shelves for a volume you might take home.

Founder and host of “Story Time for Grownups” David Loftus has read to listeners in libraries, coffee shops, Powell’s Books, Borders, multiple branches of Umpqua Bank, on the streets of Portland, and for recordings for the blind. He has voiced Gandalf, Bilbo, and Gollum live with Willamette Radio Workshop, and Sherlock Holmes on KBOO. David currently voices principal characters for the science-fiction podcasts “Exoplanetary” and “253 Mathilde.” He has also acted in an episode of “Grimm” and in many local theater productions. David’s most recent performances have been in Oregon Children’s Theatre productions of “The Journal of Ben Uchida” and “Last Stop on Market Street.” In June he turned in the final draft of his mother’s memoir about growing up in Hood River and being sent to prison camps on U.S. soil with other Japanese Americans during World War II, From Thorns to Blossoms. The book, which he revised, expanded, and edited, will be published by OSU Press in spring 2024. On his Patreon site, Loftus writes about books, films, travel, and politics, and has uploaded excerpts of a book about his paternal grandmother’s life in Alaska Territory a century ago.

You may have seen his viral rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” on the back of an electronic tricycle in downtown Portland, which totaled nearly 13 million views on TikTok the past year, and more than half a million likes on Instagram.