This is Eric Brudner. Eric was my freshman college roommate at Brown. I met him in September 1979 and he was the first "out" gay person I'd ever met. [Shocking, I know, but life was kind of sheltered in Clayton, Missouri.] Eric grew up in Queens, and he went to Stuyvesant High School. He was brilliant and he beamed with life. I didn't know what to make of Eric. He was street smart, and he had much more real world living behind him than I. We did not become good friends at Brown, but I was secretly in awe of Eric.

As you can imagine, a hottie like Eric got around, and he was an early victim of AIDS, dying in 1987. Tragically, Eric's equally brilliant twin brother James Robert Brudner died of AIDS in 1998. James worked out at Equinox with me during the mid '90s and I was able to get to know him a bit, which helped me connect to Eric's spirit. Shortly after Eric's death, his parents established the Eric Adam Brudner ’84 Memorial Concert at Brown University, now in its 20th year. I knew Eric for a very short time, but he led his life boldly and bravely, and he has inspired me for years. He'll be with me, all the way from San Francisco to LA.

~ David

http://uprightandstowed.typepad.com/weblog/2008/01/aidslifecycle-m.html
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Eric Adam Brudner

Eric grew up in Queens, and he went to Stuyvesant High School. He was brilliant and he beamed with life.

Eric, was a tal­ented jazz musi­cian and com­poser.

Shortly after Eric's death, his parents established the Eric Adam Brudner ’84 Memorial Concert at Brown University.

Tragically, Eric's equally brilliant twin brother James died of AIDS in 1998.
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Eric Adam Brudner graduated in 1984 after distinguishing himself as one of the finest students to pass through the Department of Music in recent memory. Eric was a talented pianist and composer. He was the founder and president of an active Departmental Undergraduate Group that enlivened the department and contributed ideas for curricular and extracurricular programs that have had a continuing impact on our offerings. While still an undergraduate, Eric was a busy professional, playing jazz in local clubs and successfully teaching piano to dozens of fellow students. He was awarded the Buxtehude and Arlan Coolidge Prizes in music in his junior and senior years respectively. Eric was a favorite of faculty and students alike. He brightened our classes and our lives with his effervescent good humor and quick wit, and he touched our hearts with his music. These annual concerts are dedicated to the memory of our student, friend, and family member in celebration of his talent and aspirations. The Brudner Memorial Concerts have become an important tradition at Brown.  They began in 1988 with a concert featuring compositions by Brown students and visiting composers.