Ric Wilson
Gordon Richard Wilson
16 Nov 1949 - 15 Nov 1992
Clubs & Associations
In Their Own Words
No One Playing Solitaireǃ
After returning from the Gay Men's Chorus tenth anniversary convert in Davies Hall, a musically solid and philosophically well-thought-out program, I was saddened to read D.F. Watson's letter in the Aug. 18 B.A.R., "Let Them Play Solitaire." Though I understand his anger and frustration, I regret his decision to burn his nine-year opus of musical manuscripts.
Yes, indeed, the gay community could create a void "if we closed our spiritual lips" in striking a vengeful blow against the oppression experienced and unfortunately forthcoming as a part of the AIDS epidemic. But do we want to?
We as creative individuals and stereotypically as a community, have unique offerings to make to this universal experience we call life. Many of our community, faced with life challenges, specifically AIDS, have chosen to concentrate their waning energies on giving back to life their most important and life-affirming artistic visions and statements. I recognize that there is a long history of artists making the personal, moral, social, or political decisions to destroy their creative work. However, I cannot help but feel that in personally destroying what we have to give back to life, evil has indeed prevailed against wisdom.
Though the personal and political realities of our struggle are awful, they are not unique to us, nor are they unique in history. Surely one lesson we might learn and teach in the epidemic is that we are all in this together and no one is playing solitaire. In our continuing battle for liberty and life, we need not actively actively participate in silencing the songs we lovers, too, have to sing.
Ric Wilson
San Francisco [1]
Obituary
Gordon 'Ric' Wilson
Nov. 16, 1949 - Nov. 15, 1992
One day short of his birthday, Ric died of AIDS complications. This was a man of many facets. A collector of all manner of things, he could take a discarded hula hoop and combine it with a handmade quilt, making a work of art. He loved to dance. This tower of a man could be seen at socials or even the Raw Hide moving like silk in the wind. He was a master with the needle and thread, creating fancies of his imagination which he would wear for parties, dances, events and holidays. Ric's sharp wit gave us his brilliant phone messages and political satire. A few words cannot sum up a life that has touched so many. The consolation is that each of us who knew Ric will forever carry a piece of him in our hearts. He will always be a candle that winks at us in the darkest hours.
A memorial for Ric will be held at UCSF Faculty & Alumni Club, 745 Parnassus, S.F., January 9, 1993 at 1 p.m. Donations may be made in Ric's name to the Gay Men's Spiritual Retreat scholarship fund, call Michael at (510) 534-7307 for more information.[2]
Memorial Panel
- 1LL | Western Star Dancers
Photos
1982
Obituary (Bay Area Reporter)
AIDS Memorial Quilt Block 3576
