Drew Christian Staffanson finally succumbed to AIDS in Salt Lake City, Utah on Monday, Feb. 25, 2002.

Drew was born Oct. 8, 1962, the seventh of nine children of Forrest L. and RoLayne Rich Staffanson. He grew up in Ogden, Utah where he earned his Eagle Scout Award and graduated from Ben Lomond High School. He then served an LDS Mission in Portugal.

Drew graduated summa cum laude from the University of Utah, with Bachelor of Arts degrees in communication and Middle East studies in 1989. He also studied a year abroad at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Drew moved to Saudi Arabia and worked as a journalist during the Gulf War. He spent time covering Kuwait, India, Pakistan and the Arabian Gulf. He returned to Utah in 1992 after being diagnosed with HIV. Drew was extremely fortunate to have high quality care during his final days.

He is so grateful to his family who continuously supported him; to his loving, selfless partner, Michael Shayne Bell, who was always by his side; to Dr. Kristen Ries and the entire staff at the University of Utah Medical Clinic 1-A and to the many professionals and friends who are either infected with or affected by AIDS.

Drew is survived by his loving partner, Michael Shayne Bell of Salt Lake City; parents, Forrest and RoLayne Staffanson, Ogden, brother, Neil F. (Ranae) Staffanson, Kaysville; and sisters, Leslie (Terry) Carpenter, Pleasant View; Deon (Steve) Turley, Provo; Mauree (Ron) Vanderstappen, Syracuse; Jean (Don) Keaton, Kaysville; Joan (Merrill) Hutchinson, West Valley City; Rachel (Michael) Keeney, Salt Lake City and Gayle Staffanson, Portland, Oregon.