File #12951: "http://floridalgbtqmuseum.site/museum/Ron Kimber.pdf"
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Ron Kimber was born on Valentine’s Day February 14, 1964 - and was buried on the
23rd anniversary of his birth - February
14, 1987 - having died in the early hours of
February 13th due to lymphoma caused by
HIV - AIDS. Born and raised in Winter Park
Florida he maintained a lifetime friendship
with childhood friend Mike Nesheim. Ron
had an energy and spark that was infectious.
He was handsome and full and life and just
being around him was like being at a party.
He was a budding artist and bit of a poet
who was more than at home working behind
the ladies fragrance counter at Dillard's
where all the Winter Park women loved him.
Michael Wanzie fell in love with Ron at first
sight, and within 3 weeks of meeting, Ron
moved in with Wanzie and the two shared
many wonderful adventures together
including New Years Eve dinner at Windows
On the World high atop the World Trade
Center in NYC. Ron's father had banished
him from the family home when Ron first
came out to him. Ron and his Dad (and Ron
and his older brother) had not spoken in
over 2 years, when Wanzie phoned Ron's
parents (whom he had never met) to tell
him their son lay dying in Florida Hospital.
Ron struggled with his very last bits of
energy to summon a voice from his failing
body and he did most of talking making
certain to console and forgive and provide
comfort to family members who had turned
against him, so that they could be relieved
of guilt and remorse; such was the extent of
his compassion. He was not afraid to die.
Ron was a peace and as always, was happy
to embark on a new adventure. Once he was
certain everyone he was leaving behind was
in the best possible place they could be
under the circumstances, Ron left this world
without complaint, confident that he had
lived his all-too-short life to the very fullest.
Ron Kimber
b. Feb. 14, 1964 d. Feb. 13, 1987
23rd anniversary of his birth - February
14, 1987 - having died in the early hours of
February 13th due to lymphoma caused by
HIV - AIDS. Born and raised in Winter Park
Florida he maintained a lifetime friendship
with childhood friend Mike Nesheim. Ron
had an energy and spark that was infectious.
He was handsome and full and life and just
being around him was like being at a party.
He was a budding artist and bit of a poet
who was more than at home working behind
the ladies fragrance counter at Dillard's
where all the Winter Park women loved him.
Michael Wanzie fell in love with Ron at first
sight, and within 3 weeks of meeting, Ron
moved in with Wanzie and the two shared
many wonderful adventures together
including New Years Eve dinner at Windows
On the World high atop the World Trade
Center in NYC. Ron's father had banished
him from the family home when Ron first
came out to him. Ron and his Dad (and Ron
and his older brother) had not spoken in
over 2 years, when Wanzie phoned Ron's
parents (whom he had never met) to tell
him their son lay dying in Florida Hospital.
Ron struggled with his very last bits of
energy to summon a voice from his failing
body and he did most of talking making
certain to console and forgive and provide
comfort to family members who had turned
against him, so that they could be relieved
of guilt and remorse; such was the extent of
his compassion. He was not afraid to die.
Ron was a peace and as always, was happy
to embark on a new adventure. Once he was
certain everyone he was leaving behind was
in the best possible place they could be
under the circumstances, Ron left this world
without complaint, confident that he had
lived his all-too-short life to the very fullest.
Ron Kimber
b. Feb. 14, 1964 d. Feb. 13, 1987