AIDS Epidemic Hits the Grand Valley

Derek Brunner was just 31 years old, when he died of AIDS, in December of 1990. He may have been the first Grand Junctionite to have their life cut short by the epidemic, but he was certainly not the last.

AIDS was not new, but it was new to the Grand Valley. Many locally viewed AIDS and homosexuality as big city issues. The stigma, fear and ignorance was real back then. “We’re scared. There’s always someone out there who needs to hate and be prejudiced. There are people out there who could destroy us with their prejudice,” said Karen Brunner, Derek’s mother, in a February 10, 1991 article in the Daily Sentinel.

Back on July 3rd 1981, The New York Times reported a mysterious cancer effecting ‘Homosexuals’. A year later the virus had a name, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS.

By 1984, the Mesa County Health Department had identified two local cases of AIDS. 1985 brought the first real wave of testing, and another 22 local people tested positive, according to an October 22, 1985 Daily Sentinel article.

In 1985, a Denver student was barred from attending public school because he had the virus, Weld County and Colorado Springs school boards quickly passed measures barring students with AIDS from attending school in person. District 51 schools formed an AIDS task force which recommended students that contract AIDS should be “barred from the classroom” for an “isolation period” until a “special committee can evaluate their cases.”

AIDS was here and the Grand Valley had to deal with it. In 1989, Western Colorado AIDS Project opened its doors providing testing, education, and support. WestCAP’s doors are still open to this day quietly doing amazing work in our community. And more community and more help were on the way.

Bill and Karen Brunner did more than just mourn Derek’s diagnosis and passing. They turned that grief into action. They founded the local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in June of 1989. They also formed an “informal” support group for friends and families of AIDS victims. The Brunners said they knew of at least five people locally dying of AIDS, and that they estimate another 150 locals have the virus in the early stages. “These people are upstanding community members–business owners and professionals–but they have had to hide their sexual preference and sometimes their disease because of the conservative attitude of many people in the area.” The Daily Sentinel paraphrased.

The Brunners also participated in the international AIDS Quilt Project/Memorial sewing a quilt for Derek. The quilt read “To spend an hour with Derek was to know joy, love, laughter, kindness and acceptance.”

A few months earlier in the summer 1990, Bob and his brother Andy Barone moved to Grand Junction. They came here with a purpose. They came here to help AIDS victims die with dignity. “We were told there wasn’t a problem, but actually there is a huge problem. We know of men, women and children who are HIV positive.” said Bob Barone. Working with the recently established Warren McKerrow AIDS Foundation, they opened their house to patients dying of AIDS, and organized “companion-advocates” for those suffering from the virus. According to the June 21st 1991 Daily Sentinel. Warren Mckerrow lost his battle with AIDS, in March of 1991, and set up the foundation before his passing to help others. Bob and Andy worked with Rebecca Rabanal, AIDS counselor at the VA Hospital to “…let me help him (Warren) die a dignified death, and that has totally changed my life. I’ll never be the same person again. I know that Warren is watching us and he’s happy with what we are doing,” said Rebecca.

Obituaries from the Daily Sentinel, in the spring and summer of 1991, show locals dying of the virus on a regular basis. Some of the obituaries don’t openly say the person died of AIDS, but they are young men and encouraged memorial contributions to be made to the “Warren McKerrow AIDS Foundation.”

By the end of 1992, the foundation had 18 patients paired with ‘companion-advocates.’ “We will not let a client die alone. That’s our promise.” said Bob in the December 27, 1992 L.A Times.