We remember here friends and former "Monday Night Group" members who, though gone,  still mean a lot to us.  They are special people who touched our lives and they are missed.

 

Ted Malinowski

Ted  became a member of the group in 1991.  He had been married early on and had two daughters of who mostly lived with him and he who loved dearly.  

His interests included massage, daughters and grandkids, home improvement, and gay naturalists.  

In 2006, he sold his house in Baltimore and moved to York, PA where he bought an interesting old house just a couple doors away from the home where his youngest daughter lived with her husband and the granddaughter that he loved (he was about one of  the proudest grandfathers around!) 

In July of 2007, he died suddenly and unexpectedly surprising his friends and family.

The day before he went to a Monday Group weekend party out in West Virginia hosted by former regular of the group, Jim K, who had moved out near Harpers Ferry.

This photo was taken by his good buddy, Lon T, on a vacation that they had taken in Las Vegas just weeks before he passed on.

 

Roger Dalsheimer

Roger was part of the group in the late 80's thru mid-90's.   He was a wonderful, warm-hearted man who had his curmudgeonly moments but was generous with time, his money and his friends.  He did good deeds for many people but made efforts to avoid being given credit.

This photo was taken at a holiday party at John C.'s house with his good pal, Marty S. on the right and Roger on the left.

 

Ron Gunderson

Ron, a member from the first days of the group, died unexpectedly in September, 2002 as a result of by-pass surgery which, ironically,  we hoped would guarantee him  many more years.  The failure of the operation was unexpected and his passing caught us all greatly by surprise. 

An insight into this man is that when he was laid off from his job with a defense contractor late in his career, instead of being depressed or throwing in the towel, he decided to do something totally different that he had always wanted to do and he went back to school to become a nurse!   His warm smile, infectious laugh and his big hugs,  the degree to which he cared for others, the way that he always seemed to be there when you needed help, his intelligence and insights on life are all things that we remember and miss.  His partner of 40 years, Bill R,  remains an active member of the group.

This photo was taken by his friend, John, at a Monday Night party hosted by Jim K at his home in Harpers Ferry.   (that's his partner, Bill, to the right in the background)  It was a delight to see Ron so happy and animated and have that captured in a photo.

Donnie Oliver

Donnie passed away in January of 2004.  Donnie lived way down in southern Maryland in a place named Avenue which was too far away for him to participate in our weekly meetings.  We got to know him from his friendship with Jim K but he ended up a friend to all of us inviting us all to his home for some very memorable parties and joining us on group vacation adventures.  Donnie was funny (this is an understatement!) and the life of the party but he was also a very caring person, dedicated to his job and a surprisingly active member in his local catholic church - a multi-faceted guy who lived his life to the fullest.

 

Geoff MacLellan

Geoff was killed as a result of a tragic accident at a construction site where he was working in late May of 1994.   His funeral services overflowed with people who were visibly grief stricken.  The words of a priest unfamiliar with him and what made him so special at the services made the shock of his death all the harder to take.  Friends were overwhelmed that such a young, wonderful guy had disappeared so quickly and unexpectedly from their lives.  In addition to a cute smile, Geoff had a engaging, self-effacing way about him that impressed everyone who met him (most everyone who knew him sort of ended up with a crush on him...) 

 

Arthur Stutsman

This is an image of Arthur's panel which is part of the "Names Project" AIDS quilt.  The text is not easy to read. In the upper left corner, it reads "From Arthur's Army and HERO" (His "Army" were a group of friends and buddies who cared for Arthur as his health deteriorated with AIDS and HERO is a Baltimore based service organization for people with AIDS.

 Arthur died from AIDS in late August of 1987.   He was a good man, active in gay and community affairs and helped people and worked as a elementary school teacher before he became ill.

Current member Bill K, remembers:

 "In March, 1981, he appeared in a play called "Miss Stanwyck is Still in Hiding" presented by the Theater Closet (a Baltimore gay theater group).  Arthur played "Tony" and Jim Knowlton (also a former member) was also in it as "Barney Kessler". (Jim was Financial Director of Theater Closet.)  Paulette Young was in it as well as "Louisa Jeffries".

Here's what the play program says about Arthur:

"Arthur Stutsman (Tony): A native of Terre Haute, Ind. and a graduate of IS-U University, Arthur found himself in Baltimore 2 years ago after taking a wrong turn on the way to Washington, DC. Arthur is currently employed in the Baltimore City Public Zoo (i.e., Schools! The reference to "Zoo" is tongue-in-cheek observation on Balt. City school system!!)  in the elementary division. This production marks Arthur's return to the stage after a ten year absence."
 

 

Patrick Walkney

This is an image of Patrick's panel which is part of the "Names Project" AIDS quilt.  The panel consists of a favorite shirt and pair of jeans with his name.  The dates of his birth and death are not easily read in the image.

Patrick died from AIDS in early 1987.  He was funny, bright, and witty.  He lived life to the fullest every day. 

His passing brought home the reality of AIDS to our group is a very concrete, very scary way.