DECEMBER 24, 1993 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 5

OBITUARIES

Steven J. Guzay, 38

by Keith Sutton

Steve Guzay served as an inspiration for many of us, always holding his head high, often very defiantly. He was born on July 4, 1955, grew up with three sisters and three brothers, served with the U.S. Marines, and came to influence and befriend more people than can be counted. He always sought to have a good time, loved to travel and to dance. Earlier in his life he spent a lot of energy "paintin' up the town." More recently, when he finally came to face and accept his HIV status, he wanted to get and stay sober-which he did.

Steve decided that he wanted to start taking better care of himself, and he became a near expert at that for as long as he possibly could. And fortunately for him, when he couldn't, he had a loving and supportive mother and family. Taking care of himself was perhaps the first step in what became his near total transformation. Instead of skirting life at the edges, Steve fully embraced life.

He began by embracing the principles of recovery, and then embracing each of us. As a result, life took on a new meaning. He poured out love to practically everyone he came into contact with. You know, every so often a teacher comes into our lives, and Steve was one of our life's teachers. He sent out more cards and notes than anyone-107 during a weekend trip to Toronto-and he made each of us feel so very special. He seemed to have an enormous ability to accept each of us, with all our flaws, no matter how often we added to or changed them from time to time.

He soon embraced issues-issues that he was passionate about. He fought for dignity, for us, and for himself. There was no room for shame in his life. No shame about being gay or about having AIDS. And if anyone dared to act or speak otherwise, they were likely to be one of Steve's next "students."

More than once he appeared on TV, in the newspapers, sharing his feelings and beliefs. He became an example for all of us, an

example of a man who cared enough about himself, his friends and our community, to embrace the important issues of today. And many of us still have wonderful memories of Steve marching with his Pride flag. When the "Stop the Military Ban" bus pulled into Cleveland this past April 15, that day his Pride flag was so large, and the wind was so strong, that it was difficult for him to handle it. But he didn't take the easy way out by laying it down. No, he braced his frail body against the prevailing forces and stood

his ground. Strong and proud!

He never treated life, or his illness, as a dress rehearsal. He held each day, each hour as the only opportunity to live life to the fullest.

In the end, Steve was surrounded by his mother, brothers, sisters, significant others, and nephews; the freshly cut smell of a new Christmas tree; and the sound of holiday carols. He died on World AIDS Day. There are few accidents in this life, Steve surely picked his time. By dying on World AIDS Day, he struck another angry blow at the face of AIDS. He gave each of us another reason and reminder to continue his fight. Yes, Steve was a teacher, an inspiration. Someone we will always be grateful for.

RESPOND INSTANTLY

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Fred Chance, 33

At his last public performance at Oberlin College on November 10, Fred Chance read his poem "Positive Thinking." Performing with music by fellow Oberlin graduate, Anne Deane Monheit, Fred was surrounded by people who had heard his music and poetry there on other occasions and appreciated his work as few of the broader public were able.

Fred Chance died at his home in Cleveland, December 5, of complications due to AIDS; he was 33.

He was born May 10, 1960, and was graduated from Oberlin in 1983 with bachelor's degrees in music composition and physics. He completed master's course work in composition at Northwestern University and moved to Cleveland in 1984. His works included two song cycles, two theater pieces, ten chamber works, and pieces for piano, rock band, and symphonic band. Fred corresponded with composer Gyorgy Ligeti about his transcription of Ligeti's "Bewegung." Fred's last large work was "Dirge/ Canon" for chamber orchestra.

He was particularly proud of performances of "Stiff" at the Texas Opera Theater, June 8, 1985; and "Jar" at Cleveland Public Theatre's Second Performance Art Festival, April 22, 1989. Other works had been performed in Oberlin; Evanston, Illinois; Painesville; and Cleveland. He was wellknown in Cleveland for the poetry which he had made his second artistic endeavor.

In the last five years, Fred had participated in a number of clinical trials at University Hospitals and, despite his weakened condition, was pleased to be able to attend last April's March on Washington.

He is survived by Paul A. Zimmerman, his companion of ten years; friends in Cleveland, Washington, Chicago, Boston, and California; and family in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Kentucky.

Positive Thinking

I was thinking about you just the other day And I was thinking about cells You know tiny little cells Well, specifically I was thinking about the cells that started out inside my body and (one way or another) ended up inside your body. And I think I want them back. Yes, I want them all back.

O how I wish I could have

every last one of them back.

-Fred Chance

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