News
John F. Aloi dies at 78
Floral designer serviced celebrity clients
Anthony John F. Aloi, a longtime Washington-area floral designer, died at the Williams House hospice of the Washington Home on June 9 of kidney failure and complications from prostate cancer, according to his partner, John Bekeny. He was 78.
Aloi, born Feb. 20, 1938, was a native Washingtonian and lifelong resident, having been born at the old Providence Hospital. In floral design, he worked for the Kelsey, Dove, Palace, Friendship, York and Caruso flower shops. His plant maintenance business serviced clients including the National Football League Players Association, the National Catholic Educational Association, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the Mathematical Association of America.
Prior to entering the floral design industry, he worked for Mitchell Construction on the D.C. Stadium and Central Intelligence Agency headquarters building projects. When he learned the next project was to be the Rayburn Office Building, he decided that he didn’t want to work construction during another winter and answered an ad for a florist trainee. In the years that followed, he did the flowers for the weddings of scores of Washingtonians and also did flowers for prominent residents of the time, including Elizabeth Taylor and Lynda Carter.
He volunteered his floral design services for many years, first at St. Matthew’s Cathedral and for the past 15 years at Immaculate Conception Church. Years earlier, he volunteered floral design services to help decorate the White House for the holidays.
In January 2014, he received an official apostolic blessing from Pope Francis. Recently he was honored to be selected by the Order of Malta to journey to the prominent Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes, France, from which he returned in May 2016.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines.
Aloi was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, where he provided continuing support to others in the fellowship. He celebrated his 31st anniversary of sobriety on June 3, 2016, while in Williams House.
He is survived by his partner of 31 years, John Bekeny of Washington, his brother Ross Trimarchi of Navarre, Fla., and sisters Victoria Hull of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., and Jean Winchester of Bowie, Md., as well as four nieces, two nephews, and 17 cousins.
A funeral was held in June.
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.
Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.
The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.
Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.
Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.
“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”
“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”
McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”
Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”
On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.
Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.
-
Commentary5 days agoHow do you vote a child out of their future?
-
New York5 days agoGay ICE detainee freed after 150 days in detention
-
Arts & Entertainment4 days agoA reign defined by commitment and human impact
-
Ukraine4 days agoUkrainian MPs advance new Civil Code without protections for same-sex couples

