For close to 30 years, Stephen was not only a cherished friend and mentor to nurses, but a profound force of conscience, compassion, and moral courage in our world. He will be remembered as deeply caring, fiercely passionate, and authentically himself in a way that was truly singular. He stood with unwavering conviction for justice, for humanity, and for the dignity and worth of every person.

Stephen’s voice and vision inspired generations of nurses to see advocacy as inseparable from care – to understand that nursing is not only about healing at the bedside, but also about standing up for equity, human rights, and the most vulnerable among us. His leadership in the global fight against HIV in Africa, and his relentless pursuit of justice for those too often forgotten, reflected the very heart of what nursing strives to be.

He left an indelible mark on everyone and everything he touched – from the deep love and devotion he shared with his beloved Michele, their children, and grandchildren, to the countless lives transformed through his extraordinary public service and activism – mine included.

Without question, Stephen was one of Canada’s most eloquent and powerful champions for social justice and equity. His words moved nations, but it was his humanity that changed lives. His legacy will endure in the compassion he inspired, the courage he demanded, and the enduring call he left to all of us: to never stop fighting for what is right.

Dr. Doris Grinspun, RN, BScN, MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), Dr(hc), DHC, DHC, FAAN, FCAN, O.ONT.

Chief Executive Officer

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)

Q&A with Stephen Lewis from November/December 2003 issue of Registered Nurse Journal (RNJ):      https://rnao.ca/media/10515/d…

March 31, 2026 - RNAO expresses its deepest sorrow following the passing of Stephen Lewis:      https://rnao.ca/news/rnao-exp…

Stephen remains in my heart as a brilliant and compassionate human being, as a leader with a sharp mind and superb ability to judge and analyze issues and, of course, as a dear and caring friend in good times and bad. 

Stephen has left a remarkable legacy of pioneering initiatives which have strengthened the UN system in terms of their longer-term impacts.

A part of my proud memory of collaborating with Stephen is the launch of the Code Blue initiative wherein, I shared the podium with Graca Machel, Paula Donovan and him. I continue to advocate in my public speaking commitments and writing opinion pieces on the main focus of the Code Blue campaign.

May Stephen's noble and inspiring soul rest in eternal peace and forever in our hearts.

The world has lost a dedicated and longtime peace and development activist.

l will miss Stephen and our many years of friendship and co-activism immensely.

In respectful and loving memoriam,

Anwarul K. Chowdhury

Former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United Nations,

Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations,

Initiator of the UNSCR 1325 on Women and Peace and Security as the President of the                                          UN Security Council in March 2000,

Chairman of the UN General Assembly's Main Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters (1997-1998), 

Founder of the Global Movement for The Cultural of Peace (GMCoP).

My sincere condolences to the family of Stephen Lewis. A great man.

Linda Dawn Pettigrew

I first heard Stephen speak when I went to the Carter Center’s exhibit of photos of persons living with HIV/AIDS.  The photos were very good, but the speaker was great.  It was Stephen. He was so passionate, compassionate and moving. So I suggested to my friend that he should be invited to be a keynote speaker at the annual forum of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.  IHI’s annual forum is a big deal and attracts thousands of people. Healthcare improvement was not really Stephen’s field, so most of the audience had no idea of who Stephen was or what he did. Once he began to speak the crowd was spellbound and attentive. At the end everyone rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation. It went on and on and on. Finally, after 5 minutes without any sign of stopping the moderator had to ask the audience to please stop and sit down. I have never seen anything like it. He had a magic ability to care about those in the world who were least able to care for themselves and to make that caring and love infectious. He also took tremendous pride in his family, everyone from his wife and children and their spouses and their children. He was a wonderful human being, friend and mentor. I am so deeply grateful having had him in my life. Thank you, thank you Stephen!

I am deeply saddened by the passing of  Stephen Lewis, and I extend my heartfelt condolences the entire family. His life’s work left an extraordinary mark on the world. Nowhere was this more evident than in South Africa, where his unwavering advocacy and leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS brought global attention, compassion, and meaningful change to a crisis that demanded both urgency and humanity. His legacy will continue to live on in the countless lives he touched.

I also recall with great respect his presence alongside Ms. Priscilla De Lille at the South African Women for Women Gala in the early 1990s—a powerful reflection of his enduring commitment to justice, dignity, and the empowerment of women.

May you find comfort in the outpouring of support and in the profound legacy he leaves behind.

With deepest sympathy, Carole Adriaans