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.
Ron Gunderson
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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. |
Donnie Oliver
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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.
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Geoff MacLellan
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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. 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 (which had something no doubt to do with the
number of guys who had a crush on him!)
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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". |
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.
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