Clifford Kelley

Clifford Kelley pic

September 28, 1937 – September 2, 1985

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Clifford William Kelley worked as a regional sale representative for Detroit Edison and was involved in Wayne County politics.  While separated from his wife, he was found murdered in his Royal Oak apartment.  Known as “John” in the gay world, Kelley was last seen leaving an adult bookstore near Woodward and Six Mile in Detroit with another male.

Detroit Free Press, September 6, 1985

Cruise, November 13, 1985

Jim Martin

James Martin pic

April 5, 1944 – December 10, 1985

Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, James Martin earned his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois before earning his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1969.  After a year clerking for a federal appeals judge, Martin joined the UM Law School and had a distinguished 15-year career there while living a discreet gay life in Ann Arbor.  He died from AIDS-related complications at age 41.

Ann Arbor News, December 22, 1985

Leon DeMeunier

Leon DeMeunier pic 2

August 15, 1914 – December 23, 1985

A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Leon Alfred DeMeunier grew up in Detroit and earned a degree in business administration from the University of Detroit, after which he operated his own tax and accounting service.  He chaired the Detroit Congress of Racial Equality in the early 1960s and was active in the early gay organization ONE in Detroit.

No known obituary

Leon DeMeunier papers at the Bentley Historical Library

John Mathieson

John Mathieson pic

July 22, 1943 – August 5, 1985

William John Mathieson grew up in Grove City, Pennsylvania and attended graduate school at Michigan State University where he earned a Master’s in Spanish in 1967.  He later worked as an instructor at San Francisco Community College.  He died of complications from AIDS at age 42.

No known obituary.

Roy Reinholz

Roy Reinholz pic

July 10, 1961 – December 13, 1985

Raised in the small town of Ossineke, Roy Reinholz graduated from Alpena High School in 1980, earned his B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1983, and later attended Hunter City College in New York.  He died of complications from AIDS at age 24.

Alpena News, December 14, 1985

Rick Rapaport

Rick Rapaport pic

February 25, 1954 – May 4, 1985

Rick Rapaport worked as a janitor, gas station attendant, cab driver, waiter, cook, bus driver, and for two years as wrestling coach at the Michigan School for the Blind.  After dropping out of the University of Michigan in 1974, he visited 45 states and crossed the U.S. fifteen times, returning to school to finish his B.A. at Michigan State University in 1982 with a degree in journalism.  He died of complications from AIDS at age 31.

Lansing State Journal, May 6, 1985

State News, May 7, 1985

LAHR newsletter, June 1985

Geraldine Rapaport

September 23, 1918 – August 10, 1985

A founder of the Lansing chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Jerry Rapaport was also involved with the Lansing Association for Human Rights and the Lansing Area AIDS Network.  She was mother of activist Rick Rapaport.

Metra, September 11, 1985