Paul Endicott

PAUL ENDICOTT (1944 – 1994) We chose the day we met, July 8, 1979, as our anniversary. I bumped into Paul who serendipitously arrived the same time I did at a meeting of Toronto Area Gays. TAG was a volunteer group providing peer counselling phone support for lesbians and gay men. Paul was tall, gregarious, and yes, gorgeous.

I was euphoric when Paul eagerly stepped forward to mentor me as a novice volunteer and days later, I witnessed Paul’s flair for navigating diverse calls for help. I “accidentally” left my umbrella in his car when he dropped me off afterwards. In less than a month, Paul was ensconced in my sparse studio apartment on Isabella Street in downtown Toronto.

I put Paul in the spotlight in the early ’80s by making “For Paul,” the autobiographical documentary of our relationship. We lived in a 1880s era workman’s cottage on Toronto’s famed Degrassi Street that he gutted and renovated mostly by himself. He raised the roof, slowly, using a tire jack!

Paul and I enjoyed a loving and supportive relationship, but it also had its unique challenges. I am grateful we were able to continue an enduring friendship after we separated in 1985.

Paul possessed an uncanny knack for making others feel special, and he touched the lives of all who had the good fortune to know him. Paul had an enviable zest for life, and he took delight in being there for his friends and family. Once you met Paul, you couldn’t forget him, his sense of humour, warm embrace, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes.

Paul passed away on March 21, 1994, at age 49 from complications due to AIDS. Three months later I had the honour of marching with a photo placard of Paul, at the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in NYC, as part of the “March with A Buddy” contingent. The slogan was Marching for Those Who Can’t. – by Bruce Glawson

“For Paul” (1983) can be streamed free on Vimeo.
https://vimeo.com/898628284?share=copy#t=0