CVAAS member Will Tranquilli passed away September 4th, 2010.
Other CVAAS members may remember Will for the humorous invocations he gave before official CVAAS events.
But Will was a social activist, born and raised by social activists.
A high school athlete, Will contracted polio about a month or two before the polio vaccine was widely available. He spent some time in an iron lung before regaining his independence for a time. He later contracted Post Polio Syndrome which required that he use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
I spoke to Will once about parents who refused to vaccinate their kids. Will was very clear in expressing his anger and frustration with the entire anti-vax crowd.
Despite his disease, Will was fiercely independent and socially active. He participated in community events and protests, wrote to the Fresno Bee and for the Community Alliance newspaper, and was a member of several social activist organizations. His favorite cause was Health Care for All, but he was an effective writer for many others.
Will was a member of both CVAAS, and the Humanists of San Joaquin Valley. He first attended CVAAS in 2008, and became a card-carrying member by the end of the year.
A tentative memorial service is planned by the Fresno Friends Meeting, on October 17th. Further details will be posted on CVAAS and on the CVAAS News and Announcements list, when available.
