Additional Names
Pedro Zamora
Most famous for his appearance in the third season of MTV’s The Real World, Zamora was diagnosed with HIV at 17. He became the first out, HIV-positive man to appear on mainstream television, as the breakout star of The Real World's 1994, San Francisco-set season. Zamora dated AIDS educator Sean Sasser while living in the Real World house, and the two exchanged vows in the first-ever televised same-sex commitment ceremony. Sadly, Zamora died hours after the groundbreaking finale aired. Pedro, a 2008 movie written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, dramatized Zamora's life.
Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald was a medical student and activist who worked with the OH AIDS Coalition.
His friend Julia Applegate remembers him as a "beautiful spirit" who loved his dog, and who "taught her the importance of gratitude". She says he provided "uplifiting resiliencey in the community" during the crisis years, and that he was always a source of comfort and strength to those around him, always getting everyone to dance and sing even when spirits were low.
Scott Falkenthal, PhD
Dr. Falkenthal was a Genetics professor who taught at Ohio State University.
From Dr. Maughan, a close colleague and Professor at University of Vermont:
"I was one of four who spoke at his memorial. I talked about Scott’s science, especially about his remarkable skills and youthful exuberance as a fly geneticist. The other three spoke about his other passions (if I recall correctly: creating original baked goods, weaving artistic sweaters from rare yarns, composing original music on his string instrument).
Scott introduced me to genetic engineering, which, when combined with my own interests and expertise (the molecular physiology and biophysics of striated muscle), lead to a brief but fruitful collaboration, which expanded to a number of other scientists. His publications and subsequent ones helped advance research in muscle biology through the application of powerful protein engineering methods. These advances have increased our understanding of the molecular basis of muscle contraction, regulation, and the functional consequences of inherited myopathies.
Scott’s collaborators at Ohio State played an important role in advancing Scott’s work, particularly his graduate students. As an external advisor, I witnessed how devoted and capable they were: Jeff Warmke, Andrew Kruez, and Rutiwan Tohtung. Professor Amanda Simcox took over his projects and supervised his graduate students after Scott’s death."
Ohio State hosts a Graduate Student Colloquium in his honor every year, with this years' Falkenthal Symposium, being on May 14th, 2021. The colloquium is funded in part by donations. Learn more and donate here.