Stanley Bell brightened his Southeast D.C. neighborhood with his infectious smile and colorful denim outfit, beaded from head to toe. Everyone knew him at Happy Stan. I spotted him in 2017 as I was driving on Pennsylvania Avenue in Southeast D.C. I quickly did a U-turn, pulled over and talked to him.

I kept thinking about Happy Stan in the days following that encounter, and the combination of his unique style and positive attitude. A couple of days later, I returned to interview him more extensively and make a video which I entitled, “Happy Stan’s Guide To Happiness.”

Two years later, he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He died in October at the age of 71.

Stanley Bell overcame many challenges in his life, starting with being placed, along with his sister, into the foster system as a young child. According to his niece, Loretta Cox, he left school before junior high because he was either beaten up by students or teachers, or had the police called on him. He struggled with alcoholism, depression and even periods of homelessness.

However, Happy Stan focused on his triumphs — his art, his many years of sobriety, being a stroke survivor, getting his GED later in life and even becoming a computer specialist.

“For him it was making sure that everyone knew that they can appreciate just the simple things. The sun is shining. Even if it is raining you’re still walking … just finding joy in everything,” Cox said.

“Uncle Stanley never wanted anyone to feel down. He was always happy. If anyone was crying,” Cox remembered, “he would ask, ‘Are you keeping your happy happy?'”

This story was updated with information about Stanley Bell’s death.