Saying Goodbye, to Maxx Van Sickle

Goodbye to an old friend and remembering, its been a little over a year but you are still in our hearts. We would like to wish our condolences to Joe T for his loss and may you found all the blessings that God has for you.

He was more than just an editor of a e-zine, he was a friend and an inspiration to all.

He was the sole founder of the gaylifenewsletter when it started in September 1, 1999 now known as the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter, where he united with John from the Keystone Alliance to serve the community and bring to the area a guide of reference and resource to the people.

He was a very insightful and passionate man when it came to the community. He too, believed in promoting unity and also enjoyed giving back to the community around him.
His knowledge of the community around him, helped him utilize and build a e-zine of resources and a vision of tomorrow.

His friend and partner of the Keystone Alliance, gaylife newsletter John had this to say:
 

     When the two organizations came together Max in some senses had realized his dream and he knew that he had also chosen someone who could help carry this on. At the time, perhaps, I myself did not realize what a friend Max would be to me, how he would be a mentor in some ways and help guide me of taking over the reigns of this publication but he slowly had been doing that for several years. It certainly did come as a shock to me that of his passing, because I didn’t think it would be quite that quick but then again he put this all into place some time ago. Max was much more insightful than people might even give him credit for and he was an individual that built strong ties with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people and Max made sure that I was interconnected to all of this once I was brought in. Once our organizations blended together he took the time that was necessary to groom me for the success of what was to come and come it did. He leaves behind an impressive, lasting legacy, and I am going to miss him.

 

Max was ill for some time before his passing but he never let it get in the way of his work with the e-zine and organization. He fought a long battle but it was too much for him to bear. He is survived by his partner Joe T.  We wish him well as losing someone so important to him can only be  hard. Max was a friend of mine, and we had worked together on many things but the main thing I remember is the wonderful heart this man had. So, today I wish to remember a pillar in the community and a leader. Without people like himself and John, the community would dissolve to nothing more than clubs, drama, and unlimited amounts of resources going to waste. Farewell to you Max, I know this has been sometime since your passing but I wanted you to know you are missed and God got one of the best, when he took you. Rest in Peace, my friend. Maxwell C. Van Sickle, 52 of Fairchance, PA, the Chief Editor of the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter, www.gaylifenewsletter.com, died on April 28, 2012.