Ben and I worked for the same organization, but we chose to be friends and work-siblings! I will cherish our goofy conversations, our joyful chats, our sad times, and our shared love of all the Fellows who came through our program.
Some of our funniest conversations had our beloved cats involved. I remember helping Ben use a lint roller on his then-new wheelchair because a certain little Miss Madison had decided she liked his new orange wheels! We both had fur all over us, and we just started laughing so loudly that we interrupted a meeting in the office next door and got shushed. Which made us laugh even more (after we shut the office door!).
I remember our first meeting in the old office building. Ben and Justin were sitting there smiling those big toothy grins and waiting for the paperwork to join our Fellowship program. Ben introduced himself and Justin as the “gay, gay couple ready to roll.” I could see how they loved each other, but they had to wait several years before you could get married legally in Maryland. Ben and Justin were smitten with each other.
Ben’s light will continue to shine in our Fellows, and for so many of us, he taught us to fight for everyone’s rights and fight for space at the decision-making table. We will continue in his honor to fight the good fight. Ben will live in my heart always!
