| Graduation Year | Class of 1989 |
| Date of Passing | Dec 21, 2006 |
| About | Aaron D. Wilson, 35, of South Hadley, MA, died unexpectedly of heart failure in his sleep on December 21, 2006. The much-beloved son of Maryann Wilson, Aaron was a tireless organizer, writer, leader, and activist for civil rights and social justice who devoted his regrettably short life to improving the world. Aaron was born on April 27, 1971, in Marlborough, MA. From an early age, he demonstrated a sharp intellect and a deep distrust of authority and the status quo. His rebellious and often agitated demeanor confounded every kindergarten in Worcester, landing Aaron in the special education system, which unjustly wrote him off as a reprobate. Through his mother’s devoted advocacy and his own discipline and determination, Aaron learned to channel his prodigious energy and intelligence to productive ends, and he accomplished more in his thirty-five years than most people do in seventy. The anti-authoritarianism that caused so much trouble in his early life eventually became the basis for a sophisticated personal philosophy and a lifetime of service to others. At the age of 14, Aaron learned the value of hard work, and he was highly regarded at every job he held since--sometimes dirty, menial labor, sometimes even three jobs at a time. He held tremendous respect for working people and always maintained friendships with people from all walks of life. Upon his 1989 arrival at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Aaron, along with his good friends Brian Julin and Kai Price, founded the UMass Cannabis Reform Coalition (CRC), now the oldest active student drug policy organization in the nation. The CRC has garnered major media attention over the years, most recently for protests against overbearing police policy in the dorms, a trend that troubled Aaron deeply. An effective diplomat, Aaron forged a cooperative and productive relationship with local police in addressing campus drug use, and he continued to advise the CRC until his untimely death. After graduating from UMass with a major in History and a minor in African-American Studies, Aaron continued his education at Columbia University, earning two Master’s degrees, one in Social Studies from Teacher’s College and one with honors in Organizational Management. While at Columbia, he organized the Faculty Senate to challenge the academic objectivity of the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), directed by Joseph Califano. With Vinnie Kane, a firefighter who later died on 9/11, and his good friend Tom Leighton, he founded the Marijuana Reform Party of New York, which twice placed Tom on the gubernatorial ballot. Aaron also founded Columbia University NORML with friends he met there, and served as the personal archivist for the legendary Joe Baum, who revitalized the famed Rainbow Room in New York City. From 1995-2000, Aaron served as the Director of the Partnership for Responsible Drug Information (PRDI) in New York City, which provided a safe space for local social and political leaders to discuss alternatives to the War on Drugs. In addition to organizing and publicizing forums and other major events, he conducted extensive research in order to write and publish The PRDI Guide to Organizing Forums on Drug Issues and The PRDI Drug Policy Resources Directory for the Media, both landmark publications. While at PRDI, Aaron also helped to set up the Voluntary Committee of Lawyers, an association of lawyers and judges encouraging examination of the consequences of the drug war. After returning to Western Massachusetts in 1999, Aaron was active in politics both locally in Amherst, including as a member of the Amherst Town Meeting, and at the State House. He provided support for college students organizing at campuses across the nation and helped organize one of the first national leadership conferences of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. He served as the Chairman of the Board for the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts (DPFMA), a lobbying group that fought for needle exchange, decriminalization, and access to medical marijuana, bringing experts and patients including his good friend Marcy Duda to testify at Congressional hearings. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Hampshire County United Way. Beginning in 2001, Aaron served as Executive Director for the Western Massachusetts Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) in Springfield, where he trained union members in improving health and safety conditions. This included helping families of deceased Chapman Valve, Inc. employees get compensation for uranium ore exposure. He helped broker the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, an collaboration between labor and environmental groups promoting safer alternatives to toxic chemical use. Aaron also served as a delegate for governor-elect Deval Patrick. For his service to the community, Aaron received the Micah Award for Springfield Community Activist of the Year and the Unsung Hero Award, among many others. Aaron loved science fiction and history, excelled at stretching a budget, and he appreciated all of life’s pleasures, especially music. He was an avid music collector and a passionate concert-goer. He was a strong believer in the education that comes only from experiences. Whatever he did, he did with gusto and an often irreverent sense of humor. But no matter how busy, he always prioritized the needs of family and friends. Aaron raised the inelegance of being human to an art form, which always brought a sense of ease to those close to him. Aaron is survived by his beloved mother, Maryann Wilson of Bennington, VT; his father, David Harper; his uncle and friend, Eric C. Wilson of Hudson, MA; his perennial sweetheart, Diana Ditmore of Amherst, MA; several other people who each actively considered Aaron to be their very best friend; many other devoted friends and associates, and two mischievous cats, Neko and Niko. He will be loved and missed dearly but not forgotten. http://rememberingaaron.org/ |
