http://www.virusscience.org/hiv/aids/jack_levine.htm

The 23rd of March 2002 Jack Levine died of AIDS in hospital, 47 years old.

I met Jack on the VirusMyth webboard first time about a year ago. In addition we exchanged about a dozen letters in 2001-2002.

When Jack started posting he immediately drew attention with sharp, entertaining, inspired and witty writings, revealing an educated man who was professionally involved with expressing himself in print. From vitriolic attacks - of which I had my share also! - over parodies on some of the most hilarious opinions. Or wondering why we all would spend our time on this aggressive board when we instead could listen to Mozart and read Gertrude Stein. A damned good question, actually.

Whatever the mood and subject it was always original and readworthy. I'd have liked to bring a number of quotes. Sorry that webmaster Mr. Robert Laarhoven once again decided to thrash all postings to the board shortly after Jack Levine shocked it by giving up his denial early 2002.

Jack constructively seeked alternative ways of tackling HIV/AIDS. This is always needed. Of course all now approved medications was once alternative.

From a healthwise point of view Jack's problem was that his own research didn't seem to help despite doing what he could.

He ate as healthy as possible, got lots of sleep. But still during 2001 he lost weight. On the board he posted that doctors urged him to start treatment as his results from disease progress tests continuously were going rapidly south.

Like so many other HIV/AIDS denialists Jack Levine ended up facing the reality of AIDS: physical symptoms. Or, in other words: He got sick.

In about a dozen letters to me he describes the thoughts and effect of his late treatment. Starting very intensive antiviral treatment is no joke already. In people already ill from their disease it can be more than rough.

It is common medical consensus that treatment for disease should be done well before damages become irreparable.

Jack waited much too long and died more early than needed from typical AIDS-related diseases March

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There are times where we all would need to deny. Where we can't face the facts and seek hope wherever we can despite cold facts staring us in the face.

But for a man with Jack Levine's intellect and education it was an uphill battle.

Certain questions needed an answer and Jack just didn't get them from the denialists. Despite being in opposite camps I'd occasionally see Jack repeating unanswered questions from me on the board. "If drugs cause AIDS (as the denialists postulates) why are a long range of AIDS-defining diseases only found in HIV-positive people and not in HIV-negative drug users?"

Jack Levine's conversion from denial was not friendly looked upon among his earlier "friends" at the VirusMyth webboard. As Dave Brader put it they turned against him as a couple of dogs.

But at least feelings were mutual. In his last mail, sent 3 weeks before he died he wrote:

"The Virus Myth webboard will not see my name on it for a long time, if ever. They repel me, these denialists. You don't know until you get ill."

Jack's premature demise was a result of the unlucky fact that he got infected and that he waited too long with treatment. While the first can happen for anybody the second was his own choice.

Most of the people supporting Jack in delaying treatment are confused about what constitutes science, reseach, data and conclusions. However damaging for others you can't blame people not having the insight.

The people who make me real sad are the denialist 'scientists' who shamelessly through 20 years repeat their mantras, despite an enormous amount of contradicting data. Their name and formal title keeps a denial alive that otherwise would be dead and buried with all the people who went to their grave because of HIV.

They definitely share a responsiblity for the fact that Jack went before he had to.

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Jack, I am sorry I never met you in person. I am sorry that I have received my last mail from you. But in our short encounter you were a formidable inspiration and had me laughing quite a couple of times.

Looking forward to drinking a beer with you in another world where the subject that took so much of our time here will be purely academical earthly matters.

But if I know you and myself right I am quite sure that we'd find something else to debate.

Until then... Rest in peace, mate!

Yours

Chr. Monsune

P.S. I thank Jack's family for getting back to me with the sad news and details and finally for sending me his picture and granting me permission to use it.




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