IAPAC Mourns the Passing of Rabbi Allen I. Freehling
Statement by Dr. José M. Zuniga
President/CEO and Trustee At-Large
International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
7 January 2021 • Washington, DC, USA
“It is with the most profound sorrow that I convey news that our beloved Rabbi Allen I. Freehling, first Chair Emeritus of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home last night in the company of his wife, Mrs. Lori Freehling. Rabbi Freehling was the founding Chair of the IAPAC Board of Trustees, after its re-birth in 1995, and served in that role until retiring in 2014.
On behalf of the IAPAC Board of Trustees, staff, and members, I have conveyed to Mrs. Freehling our association’s sincere condolences and thanked her for supporting Rabbi Freehling over his more than two decades of service to IAPAC. We also extend our deepest sympathies to his two surviving children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
I cannot overstate how much Rabbi Freehling’s caring and thoughtful leadership meant to IAPAC and, personally, to me. Suffice it to say that he personified the definition of a ‘mensch.’ His honor and integrity were invaluable assets to IAPAC and our senior leadership in our continuous efforts to curb new HIV infections, avert AIDS-related deaths, and eliminate stigma and discrimination perpetrated against people living with and affected by HIV.
In that latter vein, Rabbi Freehling kept IAPAC pointed towards a ‘North Star’ that focused on the universal principles of human rights and respect for the dignity of every person. He exemplified this commitment to social justice throughout 30 years as a Senior Rabbi, but also in his civic roles, including as former Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission.
I invite all of our colleagues, friends, and allies to join us in honoring Rabbi Freehling’s memory.”
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About the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
With more than 30,000 members globally, IAPAC is the largest association of clinicians and allied health professionals working to end the epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis by 2030. IAPAC is also the core technical partner of the Fast-Track Cities initiative and the Secretariat for its Fast-Track Cities Institute. For more information about IAPAC and our global activities, please visit: https://www.iapac.org/
