All we know about Roxburgh Lyle is from his death certificate. He died on 7 June 1985 at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. Before his hospitalization, he lived at 78-1385 West 15th Avenue in Vancouver. He was 32 years old, single, and worked as a make-up artist in the entertainment industry.
Roxburgh died of respiratory failure and pneumocystis carinii herpes pneumonia, which is a condition often seen in people with compromised immune systems. The contributing cause of death was acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS.
I was surprised to see AIDS listed as a cause on a death certificate in 1985. That year in Vancouver, 63 cases were reported, AIDS Vancouver opened its first office, the Red Cross began testing their blood products, and Rock Hudson openly admitted to having AIDS. 1985 was an early time in our fight against the disease. The Pasteur Institute did not isolate the HIV virus until 1983.
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30 30 Campaign, AIDS Vancouver
Canada, British Columbia Death Certificate, 1872-1993, 1985-09-010115
Canada, British Columbia Death Index, 1872-1990 Richmond, Richmond Lyle
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