The following are descriptions by the Oregonian/Oregonlive.com of the lives that Namkai Meche and Best lived and the people they touched. Meche earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 2016 from Reed College in Portland and landed a job with the Cadmus Group, a consulting firm in the area. "Taliesin's life was lost in an act of selfless bravery that reflected the immense character and deep regard for others that his colleagues saw in him every day," Kline said in a statement. [...] if he knew I was struggling, he would contact me and provide me reassurance, boost my confidence. If another student was struggling during a class discussion, Meche would say something to back them up. Best, who was married and had four children, was well-liked in his job as a technician for the city Bureau of Development Services, his colleagues said. Best had three teenage sons and a 12-year-old daughter, said David Austin, a spokesman for Portland Commissioner Chloe Eudaly.