Past Articles From C.A.N.S. News

Memories of C.A.N.S. Co-Founder, Steve, A True Life Player

Lane and I went to view the panels of dear friends we have both lost and to do a lot remembering, crying, and hugging. I particularly want to share the panel of our cofounder Steve Thurston, who many of you never met. Lane made the panel which was from C.A.N.S. and I only wish you could all see it again. It is simple in that it has his name in big bold letters along with "Chicago Area Naturist Sons" and some naked men romping about. Steve would be so proud to think that his organization of gay social nudity is so very much alive and well. Those of us that were at that very first meeting of C.A.N.S. will never forget how Steve cut his hand on that infamous canned ham and spent the entire time in the emergency room. I do believe that he had to put clothes on to make that journey.

On Sunday, as I viewed that quilt one last time all by myself, I actually sat next to the panel and told Steve all the great things that C.A.N.S. has done over these seven years...naked camping, bowling, dinners at Buddies', Saugatuck weekends, and parties, parties, parties....and so much more.....I will never forget Steve, because I travelled naked from Chicago to Phoenix with him. We were even naked at many of the viewing points by the Grand Canyon. What a trip that was! Did you ever drive through McDonald's naked as a jay bird and ask for two ice cream cones??? We did!!! We never did quite figure out how to pump gas without getting out of the car with at least a pair of shorts on. Lane and I remembered Steve and for those of you that knew him...remember him...

We also tried to look up a few other members who we were aware of, but did not find them listed or found no panels. In our hours of wandering the quilt, we did find the name of Bob Alberico among the hundreds of names found on over eight IGBO (bowling members) panels. Many early members remember Bob for a wild and crazy costume party he threw in his apartment and it was wall to wall naked bodies. We weren't totally sure that was our Bob since we didn't know if he was an IGBO member.

What else do I remember from the Quilt in Washington??? The opening of the Quilt on the first day, the continuous reading of the names, the folding up of the quilt on that beautiful 70 degree day while looking at the Capitol Building on end and the Washington Monument on the other, and finally the Saturday night candlelight march down Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenues with thousands of people I didn't really know but were all here at this same spot for the same reason. The mostly silent walk took over an hour and stretched from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and what a sight it was. The hundreds of thousands gathered in front of "Abe" and stretched again all the way around the Reflecting Pond to the Washington Monument. After a heart wrenching 1-1/2 hours of talk and song, Liz Taylor asked everyone to put out their candles as a giant eternal flame was lit. So, how many names does it take?