FEBRUARY 25, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 7

OBITUARIES

David Bickoff, 44

by Zak Haley

David Jay Bickoff, born July 7, 1949, died in California on February 3 of complications due to AIDS. David graduated Beachwood High School in 1967, he then went to New York City and attended Pratt Institute where he graduated with a Fine Arts degree in 1971. He was married to Leslie Kirschenbaum for two years. David also had two long-term male companions, Mark Badzak who now resides in Dallas, Texas, and Scott Corrigan, now a resident of New York City. He was close friends with both of them up until his death. His love never changed for either.

David defined himself as an artist and later, after graduating from Cleveland Marshall Law School, as a lawyer. David is probably best known by Cleveland's gay community for his avant garde card store which he opened in the Old Arcade. His was one of the first card stores to carry gay erotic. art and memorabilia. His store became a meeting place for gays and lesbians and was always hopping with the latest gossip and social news. A true entrepreneur and creative businessman, David was always looking for a new gimmick to bring gays and lesbians together. One particular Valentine's Day he dressed the voluptuous Mona Desmond as Cupid and had her handing out play dollar bills one could spend in his store. Now those of you who know Mona can imagine her in six inch spike heels, a red leotard cut down to somewhere that takes your breath away, and little red wings, she was holding a bow and arrow. She would tip, tip, tip right up to you and say, as only Mona can, "Hi Baby!" Let me tell you, you paid attention.

In 1982 David threw the party to end all parties. He opened his West 6th Street loft up to a thousand people and he got the loft next to his for a dance floor. David was a pioneer and was living in the Bradley building before anyone could even say "Warehouse District." The party was to celebrate a new card line called Rockshots, erotic images of male models. There was an erotic art show hung in David's loft (by Jeff Wright), some Rockshots models flown in and lots and lots of men and women both straight and gay. I met my two best friends

Strassmeyer was there, although I do remember the elevator breaking down and I think she was on it. It was just one of those gatherings where things flowed. David had an amazing ability to put people together and let them discover each other. Straight and gay, male and female, black, Asian and Jew... he just thought we never could network enough. He was also one of the cofounders of "Dancin' In the Streets," the big summer fundraiser for the Health Issues Taskforce.

What I remember about my dear friend David is that he, like the rest of us, just wanted to be loved. He was very giving and I felt privileged to know him. He was the most creative man I ever met and I will miss our long talks over the phone and his candid humor. He continued his social networking in L.A. and the times I visited him he was always able to point out a celebrity or erotic movie star. He had many friends there and joined the L.A. for the Cleveland Browns club which would meet and watch televised Browns games. These were all born and bred Clevelanders, his networking continued.

The world will miss my friend David, but I guess he's done for this time around. Rest up buddy, and if you get a minute, call me!

✓

Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity presents

A Look at Sexual Orientation

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Monday, March 14, 1994

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Journalist Eric Marcus, former associate producer for both Good Morning America and CBS This Morning, where he often produced segments on gay and lesbian as well as AIDS-related issues, is the author of "Making History: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, 1945 to 1990, an Oral History. Drawing from the rich, often heroic stories in his book and from his own personal experiences, Marcus brings this dramatic hidCelebrating den history to life in a compelling presentation. With clarity and convic'on, he answers a wide range of questions.

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Randy Shilts, 42

San Francisco-Randy Shilts, journalist and acclaimed author of books about AIDS and discrimination against gays, has died at age 42.

Shilts died late February 16 or early February 17 at his Sonoma County home, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, where Shilts had worked as a reporter.

The cause of death was not immediately known. The author tested positive for HIV in 1985 but did not reveal his condition until

last year.

His 1987 best-seller And The Band Played On: People, Politics and the AIDS Epidemic, detailed the spread of the disease and the response of scientists and government officials to the threat.

While critical of the Reagan administration, the book did not spare his own community, angering some gay rights activists by accusing them of endangering lives to protect sexual freedom.

Shilts' Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military, published last year, described the turmoil of gay soldiers who were targets of investigation under the U.S. military's ban on gays and lesbians. It was also a best-seller.

He also wrote Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk. Published in 1982, it told the story of the openly gay San Francisco city supervisor who was

murdered, along with Mayor George Moscone, in 1978.

At the time Shilts disclosed his HIV infection last year, he said he kept it secret for years for fear it would detract from his role as a reporter on AIDS issues.

"Every gay writer who tests positive ends up being an AIDS activist, and I didn't want to end up being an activist," he said. "I wanted to keep on being a reporter."

A native of Illinois, he moved to California in 1976. When he joined the San Fran-

cisco Chronicle in 1981, he was one of the first publicly gay journalists in the mainstream media.

He served as national correspondent for the Chronicle and published a weekly column, "AIDS-The Inside Story," in 1989.

He said he began researching And the Band Played On because he felt the issue wouldn't be reported if he didn't. Last year, it was made into a cable TV movie starring Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin and Alan Alda, among others.

It was in May 1972, during a class presentation in college, that Shilts revealed he was gay. From then on, he vowed never to hide his sexual orientation.

"When heterosexuals start hiding their wedding rings... I'll start covering up the fact that I'm gay," he said in a 1989 interview.

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