Client Miguel Rovirosa with his Practical Support volunteer Sydney Dygert, 1987. Photograph by Greg Day
Miguel Rovirosa was practical support volunteer Sydney Dygert’s second client. Miguel and his partner were in the process of moving from one apartment to another and needed extra help. They were initially very hesitant to call Shanti for help feeling that it would imply that their health was getting worse. But, they arranged for a practical support volunteer to be assigned to them and their coordinator informed them that their future volunteer was a character.
Sydney became close with Miguel and her weekly visits to his home enabled him to be involved with AIDS activism and casework by running AIDS support groups and services at San Francisco Presbyterian Hospital. Miguel told a journalist, “Being part of a group is important to me.That’s another reason why Sydney has been so great. If I did the housework, that would wipe me out for a couple of days.Sydney’s help gives me the time to do something I want.” But, it wasn’t just Sydney’s cleaning that drew them together, it was also her sense of humor and ability to connect with him. “I found myself looking forward to Sunday’s because I know Sydney’s on her way here!”Sydney and Miguel would share their relationship
You can read more about their story and see other archived Shanti newsletters here.
In 1989, Miguel’s partner of 12 years, John Siebrandt, passed away. You can read his BAR obituary here.
