Thinking of Julian’s family on his birthday. He was/is such a bright light! 

I met Julian in 1992. A dear man, Dean Prina recommended me to fill a position of case manager for Colorado AIDS Project. I’ll never forget the times sitting in hulian’s office, he listening and providing strength through all the grief we met daily 

After moving with my husband Gary Lundstrom to his Duluth, MN hometown, I continued working with the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. For the past 17+ years I have been a social worker for a local hospice. 

Today I learned of Julian’s passing… and grieved. I’m so grateful for the guidance, grace, and strength Julian instilled in me. I’m grateful to continue carrying that same Unconditional Positive Regard Julian was known for. 

Thank you Julian for helping me fight some good fights, and for the grace that continues to carry me today. 

Tim Robinson, Duluth, MN

Setting out on tour with "Rise and fall of the Girl"

I was very recently told that Julian had died.   What a loss.  As the Executive Director of the Colorado Gay and Lesbian Community Center, I called Julian when he was living in Lawrence, Kansas, and asked him if he would come back to Colorado and serve as the Director of the Colorado AIDS Project.  He said, "I will walk to Denver to do that."  His work with men and women living with AIDS was exceptional.

Julian was also well aware of the presence and effects of misogyny, racism and entitlement in the Denver gay community and the challenges that those presented to GGLCC to develop support and services in the gay community in the early years of AIDS.   Carol Lease

I was honored to be a youth at First United Methodist Church in Boulder where Julian creates "The man who could save they day"  He was mild and very patient with all of the youth and I feel blessed to know him.  He was truely outstanding man.

I met Julian when he first became the youth minister at FUM in Colorado Springs.  I was in high school at the time.  Our families became fast friends.  We shared many dinners and many special moments.  We were all angry and saddened when he was forced out of the church by Larry Lacour.  I never went back to the church.  In spite of the miles between us, sometimes a few, sometimes many, we kept in touch.  When my husband and I got married, he officiated and his son Joel was our ring bearer.   He came and baptized our daughter.  When my dad died, he came and held a private service for us.  Over the years, we kept in touch by phone.  He was one of the kindest, finest men I've every known.  The world will be a lesser place without him.

I was a classmate and fraternity brother of Julian's at Millsaps College. He was a warm, wonderful, and extraordinarily intelligent and talented friend. He brightened up any room and enlightened every conversation. I was not surprised to learn of his latter year musical accomplishments - he conceived and directed many original musical productions at Millsaps. 

It is so sad to see how "Christians" punished him and deprived the Methodist Church of the untold contributions he would have made. It defies logic and is shameful that "Christians," including pastors, could believe that the way they treated him was consistent with What Would Jesus Do or the Golden Rule. Shame on them.

That he overcame it all and led a life of Christian contributions to humanity does not surprise me.

In the Bonds, Julian!

Although a few yrs. older than me, I remember him as our Meridian High School Drum Major, and as the guy everyone liked!  He was an outstanding human being and makes me feel proud to have known him.  My prayers and condolences to his family.

I have known Julian for over 50 years. He was a friend, a confidante, an inspiration. We worked together at the Colorado AIDS Project for a time, had dinner any time he was in town (with a Manhattan for starters and bread pudding for dessert), and I was honored when he married my husband and me 31 years ago. I asked Julian once how he coped with all of the death he dealt with at the height of the AIDS crisis. He said every few months, he watched “Glory” a film about Black soldiers in the Civil War. He said he cried uncontrollably when he saw it, and that gave him the strength to carry on. Of course. A film about fairness, equality, the fight for justice — a movie that typified the man Julian was. I miss him.

My brother died from AIDS related illnesses when there was not much hope.  Julian and his work offered support and hope to my brother.  Forever grateful this was offered to him during the “times” then.

I was blessed to be a member of the youth department of FUMC in Colorado Springs when Julian Rush was our youth minister. Julian had such a positive impact on my life and inspired much of my love of musical theatre. Our youth group toured performing the musicals he wrote, and I can still sing songs from “PT Was Here,” and “Jesus Song.” He was an immensely talented man with a kind heart, and I am so glad that he was a part of my life for a time. My sincere condolences to his family. 

My deepest gratitude to the Pastor that changed my life for the better….  Thank you sir…..

My heart broke when we heard Julian had died.

He was there for me throughout my ministerial , ordination process. I owe my courage to him.

He taught me to be proud of myself… and was a true friend always…

I am so sorry to hear of Julian’s passing. Such a gentle soul and a true pioneer. I was the first straight male on his Colorado AIDS Project Board of Directors for four years in the 80‘s/90’s with Patty Cook, an incredibly educational and inspiring experience for me. As I recall he was attending an average of a funeral a week at that time, which wore on him but he never backed down from the fight for people with HIV and AIDS. He presided over my marriage to my sons’ mother, and worked with her sister to broaden the visibility of the virus’ impact. Rest In Peace, Julian. I’m so thankful to have known you and worked alongside you.