It is with great sadness that CRIA announces the death of our Board member, Gary Bonasorte, from lymphoma on November 9th, 2000. He was just 45 years of age.

Gary was truly an exceptional human being and a constant champion of CRIA's mission. In 1991, he was one of the volunteers who helped to establish the agency. Few demonstrated as unwavering a commitment to CRIA and to the care we were providing to people who desperately needed access to clinical trials. Gary then became a paid staff member in charge of several important functions including volunteer recruitment, community treatment forums and office management. In 1999, Gary decided to devote his full efforts to playwriting and was recently successful in staging several productions. But he did not abandon CRIA in the process. He agreed to join our Board, and was actively involved in agency affairs up until his disease became unmanageable.

For all of us at CRIA, Gary was exemplary because he exhibited traits that are essential to the considerate care of people who live every day with life-threatening illness. He was always available to anyone in need, consistently compassionate, and a terrific listener. Our ability to help patients and clients has benefited immeasurably from his example.

CRIA extends its deepest condolences to his partner, Terrence McNally, and to his family in Pittsburgh.