I was in Hawaii on a family vacation in the spring of 1991 when I heard the news that put me into a very sad and contemplative mood for the rest of the trip and for the weeks that followed. I can still remember the moment that I heard the news.
I was alone in the condo because I was exhausted and I needed to get some rest. I stayed behind while my (then) husband and the kids went out for the afternoon. I had the TV on but wasn’t really paying attention. I remember that it was a telethon or some such show to raise money for AIDS research/awareness. I was drifting in and out of sleep when I heard Richard Thomas say something to the effect of “in memory of the late Arturo Islas whom we just lost. His death is a great loss to the world of literature.” I jumped up out of bed. I couldn’t believe it. Not Arturo.
Arturo Islas was one of my literature professors at Stanford Universiy. He was a very quiet, intelligent, and supportive man. At the time that he was my professor, he was working on the first of his three novels (the last was published post-humously). He would read to us from his works in progress and we’d discuss the writing then he would give us a related assignment. He was very supportive of his students. He was a prince of a man. (For a post about Arturo Islas, on this blog, click HERE.)
Arturo grew up in El Paso, Texas. He suffered from colitis and eventually had to have a colostomy while he was in college. His family was not well off but he excelled in his academics to the point of being awarded a four year scholarship to Stanford University where he planned on becoming a neurosurgeon. By the time he graduated with a Bachelors degree in English Literature (and a minor in Religion) in 1960, he had decided to pursue a career in literature. He came back to Stanford to begin work on a Masters degree in English Literature then he completed his Ph.D in English Literature. He was the first Chicano to have gained a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. on scholarship from Stanford University. He went on to become the first Chicano faculty member at Stanford and the first tenured Chicano professor at Stanford.
I wish I could describe this gentle yet strong being that supported his students yet demanded excellence from them. I wish I could share him with you. I wish he still walked the earth. He had so much to teach us when he was taken from us at the age of 51. It was a great loss for us all.
Arturo Islas is only one of many. Millions have died of AIDS. In 2008 alone, there were TWO MILLION deaths attributed to HIV/AIDS.
When will it stop?
Today is World AIDS Day. What can YOU do to help raise awareness? What can YOU do to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV?
Some links:
World Vision-World AIDS Day
I Am Africa (buy clothing to support stopping the spread of AIDS in Africa)
Avert.org World AIDS Day
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC World AIDS Day)
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