In the summer of '92, our paths memorably crossed for several weeks in Paris, when my brother and I took a trip over there and hung out with Chapel Hill ex-pats like Pedigo, his friend Aaron Gannon, globe trotting journalist and Pink House roomie Kyle York Spencer, and future Pink House couch surfer John Hamilton Palmer.
Chris was gay, but closeted in college, even after he contracted HIV in Paris and returned to Chapel Hill. Living with HIV was hard for Chris in the early 90s. A full decade after the epidemic burst into the public eye, progress on developing life-saving drugs remained painfully slow. It was a direct result of right-wing politicians like Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) underfunding the nation's public health response, under the criminally homophobic, warped belief that AIDS victims deserved to die.
Chris enrolled in numerous experimental trials of AIDS drugs at Duke University, which kept him alive until more effective treatments came onto the market a few years later. As time went on, Chris’ medical condition left him facing increasingly perilous financial straits. But he kept his sense of humor and refused to give up. Sadly, I lost touch with Chris after he moved to Florida in the late 90s, where he lived and worked in West Palm Beach.
Death Notices - News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) 1/2/07, B6
Christopher James Pedigo
MARCH 9, 1971 - DECEMBER 29, 2006
Christopher James Pedigo, 35, passed on Friday, December 29, 2006.
He is survived by his loving mother; Elizabeth Ann Pedigo; father, James; younger brother Taylor; and friends.
Despite the many obstacles set before him due to a long battle with compounding physical ailments; armed with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge he achieved various levels of advanced education and was fluent in several foreign languages, along with being an accomplished pianist, for all of which we are very proud.
Chris, your enthusiastic conversation and bright eyed smile will be missed, yet will remain in our hearts forever.
I don't know if anyone will ever read this as it's been some time since Chris left us. I was close to Chris in the late 90s and early 00s. He was a guy who smiled at just about everything thrown at him and he had some horrible stuff thrown his way. I didn't learn of his failing health until I just happened to buy a paper one day (and I RARELY do that) and there was the obituary for my friend. We had lost touch the last couple of years but I always had a soft spot in my heart for him. We traveled to DC in 2000 for the gay rights march on DC and to attend the HRC concert at RFK. We had so many laughs and good times, I was looking through a photo albulm last night and there were the pics from the trip, I had no idea it would be our last trip together.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Pedigo, on the almost-anniversary of your passing. We missed you at the wedding last month, and no holiday is complete without me thinking of the many Christmases we all spent in Winston, in Todd, in Chapel Hill. Thinking of you, and hoping you're laughing your ass up there in the stars, man. -K.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why, but Pedigo has been on my mind lately. I am so thankful that you put this tribute out there, Erik. It's hard to believe it has been 11 years since Pedigo passed away. We had many adventures in W-S and in Chapel Hill. I miss him. -JJ
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday, Chris. The recent event of my father’s passing has me thinking about my own mortality and all those we’ve lost. I hope it is all a simulation and you’re laughing away at our imagined troubles. We fell out of touch, but I look back on those days as a golden time. I long to hear you play the piano again and have a beer on a beach somewhere. Rest easy my friend.
ReplyDeleteChris and I were middle school friends! He was larger than life and had the best life! My world just got a little darker seeing this! RIP
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