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Dies in Ft. Lauderdale Was MIT Professor of Philosophy, a Psychotherapist and Activist Recognized by Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2001
Norm Kent, the publisher of Ft. Lauderdale's LGBT newspaper, The Express, voiced what many others in South Florida gay communities are now feeling, namely "a profound sense of regret and deep personal loss." Mr. Kent called Dr. Graves "a very large man, a titan in philanthropy, a remarkable, diverse human being." Dr. Graves is survived by his loving, long-time companion, Raymond Trevino. The story of Dr. Graves' life, an autobiography titled Many Roads Traveled, was published in 2000 and reviewed in GayToday. Jesse Monteagudo, the reviewer, expressed his admiration for the philanthropist, writing: "John Cowperthwaite Graves is one of those individuals who make things happen for all of us. He is also an extraordinary man; one of our community's great hearts and minds." Monteagudo notes that Dr. Graves was: "The child of two socially-prominent families--the Cowperthwaites and the Graves--John studied at Princeton and taught Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While at MIT (1972), Dr. Graves came out as a gay man and became part of Boston's dynamic LesBiGay community. He also found time to be a skilled tennis player and talented opera singer. "Soon after he came out of the closet, John Graves inherited some money, which made him independently wealthy and allowed him to retire as an academic. But Graves is no gentleman of leisure. He became a psychotherapist; a career which he continues until this day. He also jumped head first into the leadership of several community organizations in that most contentious of cities, Boston." The Express recalls how: "Graves was also known for his lectures on historical topics at the Metropolitan Community Church's Sunshine Cathedral, where he was a member, donor, and supporter.
Jack Nichols, GayToday's editor, was, on one occasion during a 1996 visit to Ft. Lauderdale, Dr. Graves' house guest. "I knew him only briefly, although we remained in touch through the years. He impressed me immediately as gentlemanly, kindly, thoughtful and erudite. South Florida, I realized, was fortunate to have a man of such extraordinary stature in its midst. What seemed most encouraging about his presence, I think, was that those privileged to know him even briefly, as I did, realized they were in the company of a truly caring person ." |
John C. Graves was a generous benefactor of several organizations in the South Florida area 
John Graves (right) and Wally Mulane, 2002