Rich Mesek's Autobiographical Outline

A biographical sketch

1947 Born at Meriden Hospital in Meriden, CT. Difficult birth, jaundiced, mother in septicemia, doctor tells dad that I'm dead and mom is almost dead.

1948 age 1 Scalded and almost died on North George Street in Meriden. 1948 Anita born.

1950 Tommy born.

1948-1965 age 1-18 Moved to 74 Frary Ave.and lived with grandpa and grandma.

1952-1961 age 5-14 Attended St. Stan's parochial school in Meriden. Friend; Don J.

1954 Donny and Kenny born.

1957 Jimmy born.

1961-1965 age 14- 18 Attended Maloney high school in Meriden.

1961-? Worked as Reference library page after school. Friends; Scott H, John G. Valerie P.

1965-1969 age 18-22 Attended Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. Owned and managed ice cream concession in college. Worked summers at Pratt and Whitney - assembly and finishing airplane parts and at the Comic book factory - shipping. Friends; Joe T, Jim C, Steve K,Pat K, Walter T, Andy U, Joe N, Ruth K, Cathy A. The Odd Squad.

1969-1970 age 22-23 Dropped out of college and lived with Cathy and Bob K in Cambridge, MA. Lived with Diane P briefly. Lived by myself on Fayette St, did a lot of drugs and dropped acid. Worked at Littman 3-M - stethoscope assembly and tooling, Jordan Marsh, the White Card Xmas card company. Entered counselling with a psychologist. Obtained conscientious Objector status from the Selective Service.

1970 Moved to Worcester to live with Steve K, Chris K, and Vito T. Worked at Worcester State Hospital as alternative service.

1970-1972 age 23-24 Moved to Boston and lived with Steve K on Huntington Ave and worked at New England Baptist Hospital. Moved to the top of Mission Hill and lived with Barry and Dan B. Got involved with a Union drive at the Baptist and the Young Communists.

1972 Moved to Southington, CT and lived with mom and dad, worked at Veteran's Memorial hospital.

1973-1976 age 25-28 Attended UMASS Amherst, graduated Magna cum Laude in Russian languages and literature, lived in Amherst. First acquaintance with RC through Carol P. Counselled one-way by Jaye Y. Worked at Veteran's Memorial hospital weekends.

1976-1977 age 28-29 Lived in CT with mom and dad and attended first RC class with Joye V in Farmington, CT.

1977-1979 age 29-31 Attended Norwalk Community College, achieved an A.S. degree in Respiratory Therapy. Came out as gay to myself and had my first close relationship with anyone, Hugh. Lived with Joe T and Jimmy in Danbury, then by myself.

1979? Father dies.

1979 Came out at age 32 just when the AIDS virus was infecting gay men, and just after the Stonewall revolt and we gays began our liberation movement.

1979 - 1981 31-33 Worked as night respiratory therapist, Danbury Hospital, Danbury Ct.

1981 Moved to Boston, lived with Steve K briefly, lived in Charlestown for two years, found a close relationship with Joe B, moved to Cambridge, lived in a rent-controlled apt 5 years.

1981 - 1984 age 33-36 Worked as night respiratory therapist, The Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA.

1984 - 1992 age 36-44 Worked as night respiratory therapist and charge therapist, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA. Visited Ernest in Hamburg; saw the Netherlands too.

1985 Feb 19 Met Michael S who lived in Worcester, became intimate, lived together in Framingham.

1990-1991 42-43 Certificate program in technical writing, University of Lowell.

1993 Tom dies.

1992 - present age 44-48 Worked as evening respiratory therapist and sleep laboratory coordinator, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Jamaica Plain, MA. Learned polysomnography, sleep disorders testing.

1994 Moved with Michael to Weymouth, and lived by the sea.