Florida Agenda » Passages

In Memory of John Thomas Fuller

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:54:46 +0000

John Thomas Fuller, born December 22, 1970, passed away on Monday morning due to a massive heart attack. Originally from Chicago, Mr. Fuller worked at The Field Museum, Macy’s, and Robin’s Chiropractic Center to name a few. The youngest of six, Mr. Fuller was one the faces of the community in Wilton Manors. He frequented popular spots and was often described as kind and gentle.

John is survived by his partner, “Big” Dewitte, who asks that any memorial donations be made to The Pet Project at petprojectforpets.org.

A public memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held at John’s favorite hangout, Scandals Saloon’s back patio, located at 3073 NE 6th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33334, on Saturday, February 15th from 2pm to 4pm.

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Popular South Florida Graphic Designer Passes

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 19:37:50 +0000

Long-time graphic designer and photographer Warren Conway died last week after a long battle with liver cancer.
Conway passed away, last Tuesday, in a Miami hospice facility at the age of 64.

Conway, originally born in Hunington, New York, was a 50 year resident of South Florida, living in
the Riverside area of Fort Lauderdale.

Conway was a noted graphic artist who did creative work for years for Georgie’s Alibi (in Wilton Manors and St
Petersburg), the Ramrod, Tropics Restaurant and Piano Bar, the Village Pub, Rosie’s and the former Jackhammer,
Marlin Beach Resort and David Magazine.

For 10 years he was the official photographer for the Miami Opera and a volunteer for the Poverello food bank.

“He was one of the nicest people I have ever known”, said fellow photographer Pompano Bill. “He was a prince of a
guy”, said Fort Lauderdale businessman Ron Gofrank.

Warren Conway is survived by longtime partner of 19 years, Bill Molner, two sisters and a step brother. At press
time, funeral arrangements were incomplete.

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SF Trans Activist Jazzie Collins Dies

Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:25:46 +0000

San Francisco, CA – Jazzie Collins was a well-known transgender activist involved in social justice cases, particularly in the San Francisco area. Collins died July 12 at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Fran, at the age of 54. Collins was HIV-positive, and while the San Francisco Chronicle reports that friends claim her health had deteriorated within the past few weeks, the cause of death is still being investigated. Collins was recently recognized by the California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus for her work at the state’s Capitol in Sacramento. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, says, “One thing that she always had that was very appealing was dignity. I think she understood the dynamics of the challenges she faced personally and who they connected to the causes she was in personally.” Collins was a volunteer/organizer for Senior and Disability Action and was the vice chair of San Fran’s LGBT Aging Policy Taskforce. Collins is survived by her mother, Mary Mackey, four brothers and four sisters. ]]>

Jan Carpenter (1949 to 2012): Farewell to a larger than life friend

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 03:46:11 +0000

By Cliff Dunn

Greater Fort Lauderdale lost a friend last week, as Jan D. Carpenter, respected business and community leader and loving partner of Dale Russell, passed away October 2. Carpenter, born January 17, 1949 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota (“Go Bears!”), attended Bemidji State University before accepting a management position with Target Corporation, a job that would take him to Denver for 25 years.

Carpenter spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before going to Houston as Senior Vice President for BankOne. While living in Space City that Carpenter met his future life and business partner, Dale Russell, who was at the time living in Dallas. “We were one of the original ‘AOL Couples,’” Russell recalls. The two would move to Savannah, Georgia, where Carpenter became a senior manager for Pitney Bowes. That company would eventually bring him to Florida, as Director of Offshore Operations.

“It was the greatest time in his life,” says Russell, who came to South Florida with Carpenter in 2003. “He travelled around the world 36 times.” He retired in 2009, although retirement for him meant going to work full time with Russell, in their Dale Russell Network (DRN) real estate firm.

The successful brand enable Carpenter and Russell (a past President of the Pride Center at Equality Park) to participate in the joys and challenges of the LGBT community of which they became such an integral part, including serving on the boards of several not for- profit and philanthropic groups.

“He was always there, no matter the cause to further the LGBT community,” remembered Carl Marzola, President of Atlantic Properties International, which serves as the broker for DRN. “He has done so much as an activist. He once said to me, Carl, I believe in Wilton Manors, because it’s a community where I—you, any gay person—can feel comfortable, safe, and not be judged. He helped make this place that reality.”

Christopher Dunham, President of Dunham Insurance Services, said that Carpenter was “a beautiful and loving man, and such an asset to our community.” Russell, his partner of 16 years— their anniversary is tomorrow, October 11—said that Carpenter “was full of life. He could walk into a room and just become its centerpiece. He had that forceful of a personality.”

To honor Carpenter’s philanthropic history, Russell has established the Jan Carpenter Fund, to benefit the Bears of South Florida (BOSFL), a charitable organization that disseminates funds to local service and non-profit groups. Russell says that friends of Carpenter’s and others who would like to remember him in the spirit of generosity should make a contribution to BOSFL, 1170 N Federal Hwy, Suite 401, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. BOSFL is a 501 (c)(3) , and donations are tax deductible.

A private memorial event in Carpenter’s honor will be held at the end of October at the Pride Center at Equality Park in Wilton Manors

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