October 2, 1962 �" May 19, 2013
Franco Beneduce, the visionary producer behind the annual Light in the Grove event in the National AIDS Memorial Grove and the Folsom Street Fair's Magnitude after-hours dance party lived by the motto, "Go big or go home." On May 19 Franco did both, taking his leave following a stroke caused by an aneurysm.
Franco was a creative genius, whose love of beauty was matched only by the magnificence of his heart. He was born in Rhode Island, the youngest in an Italian family, and the first in his family to be born in the United States.
In the mid 90's, Franco co-hosted Closet-Free Radio, one of the first commercial gay/lesbian radio talk shows in the country. He also produced Rhode Island's AIDS Walk, famously conscripting his family to make 5,000 sandwiches for the event, and creating T-shirts for walk volunteers that read simply: "Obey Me."
Franco lived in the Bay Area for two decades, where he continued to raise funds for LGBT nonprofits, including the Folsom Street Fair and National AIDS Memorial Grove. Besides his numerous creative achievements, Franco's proudest accomplishments were the two boys he was helping to raise, Teo Surasky and Julian Hathaway-LaPointe, and his extensive community of friends.
Franco was the devoted son of Rosa and the late Alessandro Beneduce. Loving brother of Fernando and Joan Beneduce; Lucio Beneduce and Nancy Sullivan; Virginia and Edwin Foster. Beloved uncle to Jasmyn Sullivan, and Mitch and Billy Foster.
A public memorial service will be held at the National AIDS Memorial Grove on September 15. Details will be publicized when they become available.
Friends are also invited to gather informally to remember Franco at 3 p.m. June 15 in the Circle of Friends at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park.