Loving friend, partner, advocate, embracer of life and all the good things in it, Ron Rosenes passed away peacefully, in Toronto, on October 21, 2023 at the age of 76.
A key figure in the world of HIV/AIDS activism for over thirty years, Ron brought light, solace, hope, urgency and clarity to the cause that came to define him in the public eye. His name was, both here in Canada and abroad, synonymous with commitment, selflessness and fearlessness in the struggle to better the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and keep that struggle at the forefront of the public health agenda the world over.
A force of nature in his work as an activist, Ron was equally unforgettable to his many friends. A natural bon vivant and performer, Ron blended a brilliant sense of humour, political insight and personal charisma with compassion, a genuine interest in the work and lives of others and a simple ability to make people feel good with his presence and endless curiosity.
A lover of all the arts—visual, theatrical, literary, architectural—Ron could be found at the opening night of a ballet or play as often as he could be heard discussing Russian literature or the Bauhaus legacy in contemporary cityscapes. His intellectual interests knew few—if any—bounds.
Ron grew up in Ottawa and attended Carleton University, where he received an Honours B.A. in French and Russian, followed by an M.A. in Slavic Language and Literature from the University of Toronto. His gift for languages led to his spending a year at the University of Leningrad as part of that university’s exchange program with Carleton. Following university Ron used his proficiency in French to teach at a CEGEP in Montreal for several years before establishing a business venture.
Ron’s life in activism began as a volunteer with ACT (Aids Committee of Toronto), for which he eventually became board chair. Subsequently, he became involved in numerous other HIV/AIDS organizations. Pre-eminent among these were the Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC), a leader in shaping policy on access to treatment that has resulted in saving countless lives and whose board Ron chaired; and the HIV Legal Network, which promotes and advocates for the legal rights of people living with AIDS and for which he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors. As well, some of the other vital and dedicated groups that Ron was affiliated with were the Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS (OACHA), the Scientific Review Committee of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), the Community Advisory Committee of the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), the African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO), the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, HQ Toronto, with its Ron Rosenes Room for counselling, Aging With HIV, for which Ron was CAB Chair, and the Ontario AIDS Network.
On the global stage, Ron was instrumental in bringing the Sixteenth International AIDS Conference to Toronto in 2006. He worked extensively with the International AIDS Society and the Canada AIDS Russia Project and was a key participant in numerous HIV/AIDS conferences worldwide.
Ron’s life of activism brought him many accolades and some were especially important to him. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by his alma mater, Carleton University, and was awarded the Order of Canada for improving, through his advocacy and community leadership, access to health care and social justice resources for people living with HIV and AIDS. Ron’s long association with Casey House led to his receiving the Casey Award, which noted his extraordinary involvement and accomplishments in the HIV/AIDS community.
Ron leaves behind his partner, Brian Goodman, his sister Liz (Skip) of Ottawa, their two children Abby Kronick (Peter) of Ashton, Ontario and Alexandra Woodworth (Lee) of Auckland, New Zealand; and his brother Yaacov (Pinina) of Jerusalem and his family. Ron was predeceased by his mother, Sylvia (nee Fonberg), and his father, David Rosenes.
In an extraordinarily rich and storied life, Ron’s tenacity, intelligence, bravery and galvanizing action had enormous influence on knowledge, acceptance, access and understanding in the field of health care. His life was a testament to courage and compassion.
Deepest thanks are extended to the incredible doctors and nurses of the MSICU and Emergency Department of Toronto General Hospital.
Cremation will take place shortly and a celebration of Ron’s life will be held at a later date.