Richard Cordaro

I've had a very unusual journey since leaving high school. My interest shifted from art to music and I had some early success that led to many years of performing (under the name Rick Michaels, a direct result of years of my real last name being mangled by teachers.) in theatrical musicals like Jesus Christ Supestar and Fiddler on the Roof. I was the recipient of a Thespian award for my work in theater. I also appeared on television in a PBS production for children on theater. In 1984 I had a moderate hit with my partner on the country music charts and started a video production house in Cleveland. In 1999 I discovered that I had a progressive and incurable neurological condition akin to MS and retired on a disability. Since that time new treatments have allowed me to return to work and I recently began performing again for some charity events and recording music. And while there is no cure, the progression has slowed enough to give me a new lease on life.

My partner and I married two years ago after five years together and I am simply enjoying every day of my second chance at life.

Brush was not the pleasant experience for me that it may have been for many of you. I know now that I was gay which was a fact that seems to have been more known to others around me than it was to me. I can say that people didn't always make that easy. I was pretty tortured and as a result I avoided the school and reuinions like plague.

On the other hand I had a large and varied group of friends and recently I am remembering the positive things more than the negative. And there was a lot of positive. It has taken reaching this point in life to acknowledge that.