[Photo: Richard Davidson (left) and Hugh McKenzie (right) marching with Housing Works in the New York City LGBT Pride march circa 1999 or 2000.]
Richard grew up in New York City and attended JHS 47 for the Deaf. He received case management services and attended Deaf Peer Education classes at Housing Works.
Both Richard, and his friend Hugh, passed away about a week or so apart in April 2012.
Submitted by Larry Wasserman
[Photo: Hugh McKenize (left) with Tony Saccente .]
Another photo of Huge (with Richard Davidson)
Hugh grew up in New York City and attended JHS 47 for the Deaf. He received case management services and attended Deaf Peer Education classes at Housing Works. He also received services from New York Society for the Deaf Ryan White Program from Alina Engelman.
Both Hugh, and his friend Richard, passed away about a week or so apart in April 2012.
Submitted by Larry Wasserman
Rodney Leonard Jamieson
May 01, 1060 – December 18, 1994
In 1980 Rodney left his home in Edmonton, Canada, to study at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. He left Gallaudet with two degrees in 1989 and moved to Toronto where he became a sign language teacher with the Canadian Hearing Society. A staunch advocate of American Sign Language, he was one of the best in his field. He had the admiration of colleagues and students alike.
Rod, worked closely with the deaf and gay and lesbian communities in Toronto. He was a counsellor and coordinator with the AIDS Committee of Toronto’s Deaf Outreach Project and he was president of the Toronto Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf, an organization devoted to deaf consciousness raising for gay men and lesbians.
Though ill himself, he was a loyal friend who helped many that were sick with HIV while they were dying. Rod was never seen to complain during his own draining ordeal with HIV. He enjoyed until the end the company of his many good friends, his family, whom he was very close to, and his partner Marcus Sullivan. Goodbye Rod. – MK
___
you need not suffer for me anymore. My mind is alert and my soul has awakened with understanding. The body is damaged beyond repair and needs to rest. I Loved and Lived my life fully and acknowledge the end that comes with this realization. Beyond here lies a safe haven for all the restless souls who have suffered in loves name.
My spirit like yours is great and will live on in those whom I loved and who loved me. I hope I have left my mark in the hearts of those who truly cared. The passage of time coupled with understanding will heal the emptiness and pain in all our hearts.
Grieve not too long for this will do no justice to your souls, but instead remember the one spirit we all eternally share. Remember we are all soldiers of love and have our share in the evolution of humanity on earth. Have the courage to live your story and have the patience to listen to others as I have. For we are all on the same journey.
Be safe and secure in knowing we all have been given the opportunity to partake in the process of the story of life and be appreciative if you are strong enough to carry the challenge. The path we are all on will cross again, and again and make no mistake, I will be there to celebrate with all who have taken part in the quest for the holy grail.
– RJ / Marcus
Source: cemetery.org | Submitted by Christopher Watkin
This I have some memories of Dan Mansfield in Seattle, Washington, before he passed away of AIDS in 1994.
He was a graduate of Washington School for Deaf in 1968. He went onto work for Pacific Bell (now best known as US West) as a TTY representative from 1974 to 1994, for a total of twenty years.
He gradually lost his vision becoming deaf-blind over the years. He was very ACTIVE in deaf TASK force in Seattle area right after learning that he had contracted AIDS.
One afternoon in early 1994 (TWO WEEKS) before he passed away. I got off METRO Transit bus from work and I noticed that Dan Mansfield walked TWO block north past his residence.
So, I thought he was probably lost on his way home. So I approached him only to LEARN that he wasn’t lost at all! He was just on his way to Baskin Robbin 31 ice cream shop.
Then, afterwards he passed away two weeks later.
***
Memory submitted by David Galyean | Photograph of Dan Mansfield (left) with Rodney Jamieson submitted by Bob Rourke
If anyone has an obituary or additional information about Raymond, please forward it to us. Please also feel free to share a memory of Raymond in the comments area below.
Photo of Raymond Burton submitted by Bob Rourke
May 27, 1948 – November 17, 1992
Paul was born, the last of four children, to Jake and Ann Isaac in Fowler Kansas and lived his early years in Mead Kansas. As Paul became of school age his parents moved With Paul and his two brothers and one sister to Reedley California so that Paul could attend The Orosi School for the Deaf, since no such facilities existed in the area of Kansas where the family lived.
As Paul grew his parents realized that the oral training he was receiving at the Orosi School was not adequate and they transferred him to the California School for the Deaf at Berkeley California (CSDB). Paul’s life took a dramatic change for the better after his enrollment at the Berkeley School and he quickly learned to communicate in his native language, American Sign Language. Paul was very active in high school activities at Berkeley and developed many lifelong friendships from his activities while at CSD, Berkeley. Paul graduated from CSDB in 1967 and returned to the Fresno Area working for a time in Reedley at a trophy store and later moving to Fresno where he was employed by the Internal Revenue Service Center.
Paul was active in deaf and gay activities in the Fresno area and was a frequent visitor to the S.F. Bay area where he had many deaf/gay friends. In 1975 Paul met Leo Gallant in Fresno and within a short time Paul and Iro had become partners, sharing their lives until Paul’s final journey seventeen years later.
ln 1977 Paul and Leo moved to the Bay area and lived in Benicia and Napa. Paul worked for one year at Sonoma State Hospital then accepted employment with Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco. When Leo was transferred to Sacramento in 1979 Paul stayed behind in San Francisco. Paul loved the active gay/deaf culture available to him in San Francisco and became active in many activities within the deaf and gay communities in the Bay Area. Paul was an active early member of the Rainbow Deaf Society in S. F. (RDS) and helped in the founding of the National Rainbow Association of the Deaf (RAD). Paul served for many years as the treasurer of RDS and was the treasured of the RAD Convention held in San Francisco in 1981. Paul was always active in the deaf/gay community and never missed a national RAD convention. Paul also served on the boards of DCARA, the Deaf Aids Center, organized several CSD Alumni Reunions, and donated countless hours to the deaf and gay community activities.
In 1985 Leo and Paul were reunited when Iro returned to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University. Paul provided Leo with the support necessary for his completion of University studies and they continued living together in a committed, loving relationship until Paul’s death in L992. Paul started his disability retirement from Wells Fargo Bank in December of 1990 but continued to be active within those organiz,ations he loved up until his death on November 17, 1992.
Paul was a lover of all people and his outgoing personality will be missed by all of us. Wherever Paul went he was at the middle of the conversation and made friends all over the country and the World. Paul loved travel and was able to visit many parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Wherever he went, though he didn’t know the language, he made friends through his amazing communication skills. Paul’s legacy to the deaf and gay communities will continue for years to come, he has been an example for all of us who’s life he touched.
Obituary submitted by Leo Gallant | Photograph submitted by Bob Rourke
If anyone has an obituary or additional information about Jim, please forward it to us. Please also feel free to share a memory of Jim in the comments area below.
Photograph of Jim submitted by Bob Rourke
If anyone has an obituary or additional information about Gary, please forward it to us. Please also feel free to share a memory of Gary in the comments area below.
Photograph of Gary submitted by Bob Rourke
If anyone has an obituary or additional information about Arthur, please forward it to us. Please also feel free to share a memory of Arthur in the comments area below.
Photograph of Arthur Evans submitted by Bob Rourke
David William Ritchie, a long-time resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, died at age 43 on September 18, 1995, of an AIDS-related neurological disorder, according to his brother Craig Ritchie.
Ritchie was born May 11, 1952, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Montgomery County, Md. After graduating from Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, Md., Ritchie continued his studies at Montgomery College in Montgomery County, Md., Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., and the Royal School of Church Music in Croydon, England.
In 1978, he received his choir master certificate from the American Guild of Organists. Ritchie, who began his study of music at age seven, studied under organists Elizabeth de Ayala and William Watkins. He played recitals in over 25 local churches, including four at Washington National Cathedral. He performed in Boston, Mass.; Williamsburg, Va.; Lima, Peru; and Innsbruck, Austria.
According to his brother, Ritchie was the organist and choir master at the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Washington, D.C., and manager of the Choral and Organ Music Department at Dale Music Company in Silver Spring, Md. In addition to his church music, Ritchie also served as music director, vocal coach and accompanist in over 25 musical stage shows, including a tour of England with the Gallaudet University Model Secondary School for the Deaf’s production of Godspell.
“David Ritchie was a familiar and generous man with an encyclopedic knowledge of music and a million friends,” his brother said.
In addition to his brother, Ritchie is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Ritchie of Silver Spring, Md., and sister, Diana Aguilar of Liberty Hill, Texas.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 20, at 1 p.m. at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 222 8th St. NE, Washington, D.C. Ritchie’s remains were cremated. Interment will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to Montgomery Hospice Society, 1450 Research Boulevard, Suite 310, Rockville, Md. 20850.
Submitted by Bob Rourke | Transcribed by Nanette Edwards
