Local
Loved ones celebrate life of Desi Deschaine
Desi Deschaine (Photo courtesy of facebook)
Four months after Desi Deschaine died accidentally in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, more than 200 relatives and friends gathered in Saint Patrick’s Church, on a slightly overcast afternoon, to celebrate his life.
Rev. Msgr. Salvatore A. Criscuolo greeted the celebrants and began a one-hour service, which was organized by Lee Brian Reba from Council Chair Vincent Gray’s office and Jeff Coudriet from Council member Jack Evans’ office. Lending their voices to the service was the D.C. Boys Choir.
A Council ceremonial resolution was presented to Desi’s parents by Evans, for whom Desi worked at the time he died. Evans was surrounded by Council members Gray, Tommy Wells, Jim Graham, Mary Cheh and David Catania. Gray spoke of Deschaine’s dedication to the people of the District of Columbia and to his passion for service. Former Mayor Anthony Williams spoke of how Deschaine worked for his administration, noting that Deschaine was always around with a good word on a tough day. He recalled that whatever he asked Deschaine to do somehow got done.
Former Council Chair Linda Cropp delivered the eulogy and kidded that Deschaine would have loved the picture that was displayed in the front of the church as he looked so slim. She spoke of the warmth of Deschaine’s smile and how he could make anyone feel better by just being around and that he had the capacity to light up a room.
Deschaine was remembered by best friend Neil Alpert, Lee Brian Reba and his cousin Terri Adams who shared anecdotes about Deschaine growing up in Connecticut and stopping by her house on the way home from school to chat. Then Deschaine’s parents, Linda and Philip, and his sister Desiree thanked everyone for being part of Deschaine’s life.
His sister, Desiree, reminded everyone that Deschaine switched from being a Republican in college to a Democrat. She said that when that happened her grandmother, a lifelong Democrat, could finally rest easy.
Among the celebrants at the church were many local ANC members, city officials, and those who worked with Deschaine on all the various causes he cared about. Presenting the colors were the D.C. Fire and EMS Guard. As people left the church a few couldn’t help but remark that the celebration of his life was held in a Catholic church and that were Desi alive today he would be on the front lines fighting for marriage equality in the city.
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Congratulations to Yadiel Meléndez, on their new role as Community Associate, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Meléndez is piloting a new role as a Community Associate at the Wanda Alston Foundation, where they support queer and trans young people in finding their footing, building independence, and experiencing a housing community where they are seen, valued, and affirmed. They are coming into this role with more than a decade of experience as a community organizer and operations specialist, supporting diverse communities through service, advocacy, and program coordination.
Previously they worked for Right Proper Brewing Shaw as a server and bartender and at Sephora, Washington, DC, and at FreshFarm, DC, in bilingual food access. They also worked freelance to build foundational structures for local queer BIPOC performance art coalitions, producing variety shows to curate space for marginalized performance artists in the community. They were a production manager for Haus of Hart Productions, a BIPOC centric performance art production. They also worked as field staff with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Stafford, Va.
Meléndez is bilingual, Spanish and English. Their work is guided by a commitment to dignity, safety, and trauma-informed engagement, particularly within LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.
Congratulations also to Ben Rosen LICSW, on his new role as program director, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Rosen previously worked with Fountain House’s OnRamps program, helping to build a new, innovative outreach program for individuals considered chronically homeless, and living with serious mental illness, in the Times Square area of New York. Rosen is a Psychotherapist, having worked with SG Psychotherapy, and as the psychotherapist with the Nest Community Health Center (URAM).
Rosen has a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre, Minor in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Malloy University Conservatory; and his M.S.W. in Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, from The Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, N.Y. He is independently licensed in New York and Washington, D.C.
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
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