[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E96]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF THE LATE RICK PACURAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise with pride and deep sadness to pay my 
respects to a San Francisco leader, Michael ``Rick'' Pacurar, who 
tragically passed away last month from AIDS-related complications. Rick 
was a tireless advocate for the causes he believed in, and his work 
touched the lives of many people. He will be long remembered with great 
affection and respect.
  Rick Pacurar graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a 
degree in psychology. He began attending Harvard Business School but 
soon moved to San Francisco after deciding his studies there were not 
taking him in the direction he wished to go.
  He found the satisfaction from his work which had been missing in 
business school as an activist in San Francisco. Early on in the AIDS 
crisis, Rick helped to publish a pamphlet, ``Can We Talk,'' and founded 
the Harvey Milk AIDS Education Fund to raise awareness about the 
disease. For these and other efforts, he was asked to serve on the San 
Francisco Joint Task Force on HIV. Rick was also an advocate for San 
Francisco artists and served as the director of a live-work complex for 
artists named Project Artaud.
  Rick's activism extended into his work for candidates and elected 
officials. He worked on campaigns for Senator Barbara Boxer, former San 
Francisco Mayor Art Agnos, and San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano. He 
also served as an aide to former Supervisor Harry Britt and to then-
Assemblyman John Burton.
  Rick's passing is a great loss for San Francisco. Despite his 
illness, he was always ready and willing to fight for what he believed 
in. His activity and commitment were inspirational, and he put his 
heart into everything that he did. Rick was a true friend to the 
community, and he was loved for it. We will miss him greatly.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his partner, Mike Housh; his 
parents, Victor and Doris; his sister, Vicki Lekas; and all of his 
family and friends.

                          ____________________