JONATHAN IRVINE JOEL "BEAR" IRVINE MEMORIAL

Jonathan Irvine: October 16, 1955 - November 17, 1989

Joel "Bear" Irvine: August 21, 1959 - November 11, 1991

I have lost two sons to AIDS.

Two of the Irvine's five children were twins, Jonathan and Janice. (Yes, all the kids' names begin with the letter "J" - Joslyn, Janice, Jonathan, Jeryl, and Joel.) The twins were born on October 16, 1955 in Swinden, England, where father Joe was stationed at the time. Janice was born a little over an hour before her twin brother. They later attended Lowell High School in San Francisco.

Jonathan was the quiet one who ultimately pursued graduate work in agronomy. He was interested in track in high school. Other passions included dance, jewelry, antique furniture and plants.

A published plant researcher at Calgene, Jonathan lived with his girlfriend in Davis, California. He was beginning to think about going into journalism when he got ill with HIV. His mother says that's when he turned to Buddhism.

Jonathan was 34 years old when he died in November of 1989.

Joel was the youngest Irvine, born on August 21, 1959 at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. He attended McAteer High School and like his older brother, pursued track. When he got interested in bowling, the whole close-knit family (except Mom) joined in. According to his mother, Joel was outgoing and "had a lot of interests," such as old fashioned printing presses. Animals fascinated him, especially bears. He collected bears. Soon, everyone was calling him "Bear."

Joel eventually became an instructor in stained glass for San Francisco's Park & Recreation department, and for the Josephine Randall Museum.

He was 32 years old when he died in November of 1991.

The only thing worse than losing your child to AIDS is losing two children to AIDS. I beg you mothers out there to speak with your children. Don't wish you had when the day comes that your child has to tell you they are HIV positive.