Following are excerpts from some of the many e-mails, letters, sympathy cards, press releases and news items regarding the untimely death of Charles E. Clifton. Charles, TPAN Executive Director and Positively Aware Editor, died in Chicago on August 15th, 2004, of a pulmonary embolism. He was our leader, our colleague and our friend. We'll miss you, Mini.

Charles was everywhere doing everything, all the time, and played many, many roles to many, many people, both here and across the country and the globe.

He was also one of the only executive directors I have ever known to be so un-abashedly political and fired up. No mincing for him. He was never afraid to say what needed to be said. Loved him for that.

He will be missed from end to end and all points in between more than I am able to articulate.

Jim Pickett

Charles Clifton's tireless work, passion and generous spirit is indescribable. His approach was always informed, rational and immediate. This loss to Chicago and indeed the world will be immensely felt.

Lora Branch, Director of LGBT Health, Chicago Department of Public Health

The community has lost a great leader and many people have lost a great friend ... you're all in our thoughts.

David Kern, Chicago Department of Public Health

A little over a year ago Charles discovered an article I had written about the plight of the Black community in the fight against HIV. The name of the article was "Dying in Silence" and it centered on the apathy about HIV/AIDS in Black communities across this country. Charles asked me could he publish the article, "This is something we should constantly bring to light," he said.

Charles was a special person. He was articulate, witty, thoughtful ... there are just not enough adjectives. He and I have sat through many meetings together, his emphasis on care and treatment and mine on education and prevention made us a great team. I learned a great deal from Charles and I will truly miss him. He was the antithesis to the article I wrote. He was a strong Brother who knew that the silence in our Black communities about this virus was one of our greatest vulnerabilities. When we talked about the article I had written, he told me how Positively Aware deals mainly with care and treatment "but we have to find a place to put these words."

There is definitely a void which will be hard to fill with the passing of Charles. I do not say that only as a friend but also as an advocate in this fight. We have so much more work which needs to be done. Although he may be gone, his ideas, his passion and his sensitivity to the epidemic lives on through the many lives he has touched. Many we will never know. Many have read what he has written and have been inspired to fight on! He was a great man who gave of himself to help others, and that has to be the greatest gift. So once again, I will miss Charles, but I know he will always be with me in many ways. I will always hear his words of encouragement, I will always recall the passion he commanded in the struggle, and most of all I will always be comforted in the remembrance of someone who truly cared.

Charles W. Martin
Executive Director
Julius Adams AIDS Task Force, Key West

I had known Charles for a brief period when I was invited to serve with him and four others on the Retrovirus Community Liaison Subcommittee. I am sure my other colleagues will share my view that Charles was a fellow who made our work enjoyable to carry out. As the only member from Africa, I found Charles to be very supportive in helping me face some of the challenging moments that came up during my tenure. I recall how with ease I instantly took to Charles when we first met in Chicago last year for our first working sessions. Again last year, Charles was there to bail me out when communication problems put me in a tight corner.

Before I heard of his death, I had been planning the 1st National HIV Treatment Forum here in Ghana. I was considering giving up the idea due to some challenges I was facing. But upon hearing of Charles' death, I have been rekindled to go ahead with the forum.

When I mount the platform as the first speaker, it will be in memory of Charles E. Clifton.

William Joe Adusei
Coordinating Director
Centre for AIDS Information Network

The loss of Charles has stunned us. In our uncertain, chaotic world, we live under the illusion that someone like Charles will be around to show us the way through troubled, confusing times.

For a while the world will seem less bright and complete because he is no longer with us. But because he had such a powerful vision, his presence on this planet, even for such a short time, has made the world a better place for us all.

His articles in Positively Aware spoke to activists in fields far beyond HIV/AIDS. Until I read some of his pieces, the environmental community infuriated me. His insights and explanations helped put things in perspective.

Rarely does a leader combine intelligence, vision and compassion along with the ability to work with widely diverse groups of people. I loved watching him control conflict through subtle displays of disapproval. Seeing TPAN flourish under his direction must have both pleased and encouraged him.

Words can not heal the deep wounds of loss. Time and grief will run their course, and those who had the great pleasure of knowing him can experience the aura of his gifts.

With sympathy,

Judy and Dave Allen

I am overcome with grief at the loss of Charles Clifton. For me he was a hero and an example of how one could be a leader without losing one's kindness, generosity, intelligence, and sense of humor. The work Charles did at TPA was an inspiration. He was an incisive writer and editor. Charles was one of the early activists to recognize the importance of building stronger new coalitions and he was key to the founding and development of ATAC [AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition]. Charles was a good listener and could often see the better sides of fellow activists, even in the midst of controversy. Most of all, Charles was a lot of fun. I will treasure the times we spent in Houston, in New York, and most recently in Bangkok, and I will feel sharply the pangs of never being able to enjoy his presence again. Charles, thanks for your contributions, your sense of justice, and your sense of fun. You are irreplaceable.

Mark Harrington, TAG (Treatment Action Group, NYC), and ATAC

What can I say about the unexpected loss of Charles Clifton! I'm in shock! Many of us knew that he was in the hospital after experiencing complications from a diagnostic heart procedure. But we thought he was going to be okay.

This is a tremendous loss for the community. Charles was such a wonderful man. He had such a sweet and loving nature and was extremely smart and effective as an AIDS activist. I was so impressed with his remarks at our Abbott press conference at the last Retrovirus Conference in San Francisco. His words were well reasoned and right on the money. They also reflected a deep understanding of the entire issue and all its consequences.

Let's do what we can to honor his work and memory. We are all better for having known Charles. I hope that ATAC will think of a way to remember his gentle spirit and committed nature.

Lynda Dee, AIDS Action Baltimore, and ATAC

I'm deeply sorry to learn of Charles's passing. I'm at a loss for words to even begin to describe how much I liked him and respected him and all the work within the community he has done for many years. This is a tremendous loss personally and for the community.

Sam Soriano, ATAC

I had the pleasure of meeting Charles through my involvement with ATAC. I found him to be warm with a generous spirit and a great sense of humor. His presence as an activist will definitely be missed but his inspiration remains with us in the struggle.

Thank you, Charles, for the dedication and commitment you embodied. With your life and your work you have touched many lives.

Martell Randolph, Being Alive, Long Beach, and ATAC

I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Charles Clifton. As a positive person I was able to interact with TPAN and their wonderful staff, they were a credit to Charles' leadership. The thoughts and prayers of my wife and I, and all of our family are with all of you during this difficult time.

I truly feel that TPAN saved my life, and the staff were the first ones to tell me, "It will be okay, you can live with this, if you choose to. ..." I know that you will continue to touch the lives of so many of us struggling to make sense of this virus. Since my first visit to TPAN almost three years ago I got a great job; I got married to a beautiful, incredible (positive) woman; became a father to a beautiful (negative) baby girl; and most of all I am healthy, and living my life instead of waiting for it to end! Thanks to Charles and all of you at TPAN.

Name withheld, via the Internet

I just wanted to send a note to say that my thoughts are with you and everyone who knew and loved Charles. I still can hardly believe it, just too horrible for words to have lost such an incredibly wonderful human being. I'm going to miss him terribly, for the rest of my days.

Richard Jeffreys, AIDS Treatment Data Network (ATDN), and ATAC

Charles was a great guy and I love him. When I moved to Chicago and went to work for TPAN, I got not only a great "boss" (he was working on his degree and didn't have much time for bossing me around), but a friend with whom I've remained close since I moved back to California. He was so smart, and so funny -- hilarious! -- and fun to be around, whether we were talking politics, about HIV, or his "girls" [Llahsa Apso dogs]. I didn't get to see enough of him once I moved back, and I am so, so sorry about that. Charles was full of integrity and charm, and he worked so hard, but he always had time for anyone who needed him (okay, this was before he became the Executive Director, so I don't know what happened after that ...) -- Kurt, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Susan Forrest, Los Angeles

I only had the opportunity to meet Charles at the University of Chicago in the summer of 2001. We took a Spanish translation class together in order to prepare for an exam.

I enjoyed listening about his research on same-sex desire in historic Chicago. He was a scholar -- willing to share his ideas and equally willing to listen to constructive criticism.

He was also funny, and he and I shared a few crazy looks and laughs as we worked on our Spanish translation that summer.

I didn't know him well, but I wanted to share that in addition to being a strong fellow Black brother, an activist, and being a kind and friendly person -- Charles was a scholar. My sincerest condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.

Sheldon Lyke