The Robert Carr Fund mourns the loss of A. Cornelius Baker

The Robert Carr Fund mourns the loss of Antonio Cornelius Baker.

 

 

The collective family of Robert Carr Fund grantees, community leaders, donors, partners and staff is shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Cornelius Baker.

Cornelius filled a room with energy and enthusiasm. His deep thinking, eloquence, strategic approach and commitment to collaboration invariably steered challenging situations towards creative solutions. He was instrumental in the creation of the Robert Carr Fund in 2012 and helped to ensure that PEPFAR remained the largest donor to RCF for each successive round of funding. Along with Sandy Thurman, he represented PEPFAR as a member of our International Steering Committee from its inception until his untimely death.

Cornelius was a beacon of hope for inadequately served populations around the world and a stalwart advocate for the rights and health of marginalized communities most affected by HIV. He recognized the intersectionality of race, gender and sexual identity as critical issues impacting HIV risk and that people living with HIV need to be at the centre of our responses to the pandemic.

We will miss his intelligence and wit, his dedication, passion and hard work, his smile, his kindness and his humanity. We have lost a true hero and warrior for equality and justice. May our memory of Cornelius and the life of public service he led inspire us to work ever harder to end AIDS, discrimination and oppression and to leave no one behind.