Quest
Newsroom
Updated
May 7, 2008
Compiled
& written by Mike Fitzpatrick
Memorial Service Held For Club 5 Owner And
Activist Ed Gruenwald
Madison - Club 5 held a Night of Reflection to remember veteran gay activist and Club 5 founder Ed Gruenwald on May 7 from 5-8
PM at the venue here.
Gruenwald died following a brief battle pancreatic cancer. The 58 year-old Gruenwald succumbed April 21. He had been diagnosed with the disease April 4.
Following the LGBT community's loss of the Washington Hotel complex, Gruenwald opened Club 5 in 1998 on Madison’s southwest side. He previously had owned Manoeuvres, a smaller gay club in the former Wilson Hotel. He also owned one of the first gay pride stores in Madison, We Are Family, on the city’s east side. Gruenwald was also a longtime sponsor of the Madison Gay Softball (now SSBL-Madison) and involved with the MAGIC Picnic and Madison Pride.
According to a message posted on the night club’s website, Club 5 will continue to operate and serve the community, according to Gruenwald’s wishes.
General manager David Eick told Quest that Gruenwald had made plans for the club’s future long before he was stricken with cancer. “Ed had things in place in case something happened,” he said. “Basically Club 5 has a corporate structure so the bar will be open for business as usual.”
Gruenwald’s family has already begun arrangements for the bar to continue for the long term, Eick told Quest. Negotiations with an individual who has already spoken with employees. “The new individual has assured the staff that the club will continue to operate as it has in the past,” Eick said.
Gruenwald is survived by his partner Johann and both their families. Gruenwald’s family asks that any memorials be made by donations to the Madison AIDS Network. “Ed was a big supporter of the AIDS Network,” Eick said. “The club’s coat check has been donated to them for years, and there have been many benefit shows and promotions as well.”
Eick added that the family has also said that memorial donations to the Madison chapter of the American Cancer Society would also be welcome.
A second public memorial ceremony is being scheduled at the Madison Hospice on Saturday, May 17. The Gunderson Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Gruenwald’s cremains will be interred following private family services.
Madison - Club 5 held a Night of Reflection to remember veteran gay activist and Club 5 founder Ed Gruenwald on May 7 from 5-8
PM at the venue here.Gruenwald died following a brief battle pancreatic cancer. The 58 year-old Gruenwald succumbed April 21. He had been diagnosed with the disease April 4.
Following the LGBT community's loss of the Washington Hotel complex, Gruenwald opened Club 5 in 1998 on Madison’s southwest side. He previously had owned Manoeuvres, a smaller gay club in the former Wilson Hotel. He also owned one of the first gay pride stores in Madison, We Are Family, on the city’s east side. Gruenwald was also a longtime sponsor of the Madison Gay Softball (now SSBL-Madison) and involved with the MAGIC Picnic and Madison Pride.
According to a message posted on the night club’s website, Club 5 will continue to operate and serve the community, according to Gruenwald’s wishes.
General manager David Eick told Quest that Gruenwald had made plans for the club’s future long before he was stricken with cancer. “Ed had things in place in case something happened,” he said. “Basically Club 5 has a corporate structure so the bar will be open for business as usual.”
Gruenwald’s family has already begun arrangements for the bar to continue for the long term, Eick told Quest. Negotiations with an individual who has already spoken with employees. “The new individual has assured the staff that the club will continue to operate as it has in the past,” Eick said.
Gruenwald is survived by his partner Johann and both their families. Gruenwald’s family asks that any memorials be made by donations to the Madison AIDS Network. “Ed was a big supporter of the AIDS Network,” Eick said. “The club’s coat check has been donated to them for years, and there have been many benefit shows and promotions as well.”
Eick added that the family has also said that memorial donations to the Madison chapter of the American Cancer Society would also be welcome.
A second public memorial ceremony is being scheduled at the Madison Hospice on Saturday, May 17. The Gunderson Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Gruenwald’s cremains will be interred following private family services.