By Emmanuel GarciaCrossroads Fund mourns the loss of an amazing Chicago organizer and member of our community. On January 29th, John Castillo-Pennycuff passed away. John was a beloved and respected activist in the LGBTQ community. He served on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Mayor’s Advisory Council on LGBT Issues, was a member of Queer Nation Chicago, Equal Marriage NOW, the Coalition against Bashing, and many other groups, but I knew him as a friend.The first week I started the Lisa Fittko Internship at Crossroads Fund I ran into John Pennycuff outside of our office in Logan Square. It was a sunny day on the last week of June. He had a big smile. We talked briefly about what the internship entailed and he shared his excitement about my involvement with Crossroads Fund. This brief encounter in Logan Square was one of the few times I saw John without Robert, that was the only difference; his welcoming spirit was the same as all the other times I saw him. At the time I didn’t know that John and his husband Robert were donors to Crossroads Fund, but I did know how committed they were to gay rights.He was a fierce advocate for marriage equality. One of the pieces that stand out for me is that out of all the actions he did to create change, John said his proudest moment was taking his partner Robert Castillo to a family reunion. It may sound simple, but it is this love the fueled his tireless efforts.Not only was John a donor to and friend of Crossroads Fund, and a member of many grantee organizations, including ACT/UP Chicago and the Emergency Clinic Defense Network, but he also represented the activist spirit of Crossroads Fund: He used multiple strategies for social change, working both outside and inside institutions. He would picket and boycott when necessary, but also engaged the city government to press for better services and increased funding for LGBTQ issues. He was involved in organizing across issues. His activism was not limited to the causes that directly impacted him as a gay man. He was an active member of the anti-war movement, and was involved in a lawsuit against the city after his arrest at a 2003 anti-war march. He also worked for reproductive justice, volunteering with the Emergency Clinic Defense Network.The impact of his work will be felt for years to come. He will be greatly missed by many around Chicago and across the country.Visitation for John Pennycuff will be held on Thursday, February 2.from 3:00pm – 9:00pm at the Jaeger Funeral Home, 3526 N Cicero (1 block south of Addison), Chicago IL 60641.
