Sam Bezanis, a longtime Chicago businessman and volunteer for numerous groups, died July 18 from complications after shoulder surgery. He was 70.
Bezanis and his partner Mark Jacobs moved to Michigan City, Ind., in 2007 to save on the cost of living, but they were still frequent visitors to Bezanis' hometown, Chicago. Jacobs and Bezanis owned Sam Bezanis, Ltd. Bezanis was a proud member of the American Institute of Floral Designers.
Among the numerous non-profits Bezanis supported through fundraising and volunteer work were the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois; the Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force of the 1980s; IMPACT of the 1990s; the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; and the Illinois Federation/Equality Illinois. The ACLU was a particular favorite, and Bezanis chaired several galas for the group. He received the ACLU Annetta Dieckmann Award 1997. In 1996, he was also part of the team that pulled together a huge LGBT event at the MCA to coincide with the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. More recently, he pulled strings to get cash donations and donated materials for the Center on Halsted.
Bezanis and his late partner Jerry Stephens opened Floral Designs in 1967, at 2355 N. Clark, with Bezanis working there full time. The company quickly took off, providing floral arrangements for top Chicago socialites and later using those friendships to help LGBT and AIDS causes. In a 2007 interview with the Chicago Gay History Project, Bezanis emphasized that Chicago "society" people played an important role in raising funds for gay and AIDS groups.
Bezanis also did a large percentage of society parties as a party planner and florist, and also parties at museums, auto shows and more. Mainstream groups he helped included the Museum of Broadcast Communications, Prevent Child Abuse America, Passavant Cotillion and the Children's Home and Aid Society.
"He loved being in the flower business," Jacobs said. "He enjoyed sharing his talents with others. He could only be happy with an event that was as perfect as humanly possible."
While Jerry Stephens had been quiet about living with AIDS, he eventually allowed the ACLU to take up a case on his behalf to fight against a dentist who refused him care because of his illness. Former ACLU gay and AIDS project director John Hammell took up the cause and helped win the case—a case initially decided around the time Hammell himself died. The case still took years to complete, and Stephens, too, died before that day came. A judge allowed Bezanis to continue the case in his late partner's name, also a precedent-setting ruling, and Bezanis eventually won, but even as of 2007, no money had been collected in the victory. But the precedent stands, making sure that medical offices are viewed by the law as places of "public accommodation," said Colleen Connell of the ACLU of Illinois.
"Sam believed in the promise of civil liberties and equality for all guaranteed in the Bill of Rights," said ACLU of Illinois Board President Jill Metz. "He acted on these beliefs with a generosity of spirit, time, talent and financial support for the ACLU. He will be missed."
Bezanis overcame great odds. He had his first heart attack in his early 20s, and suffered numerous complications from further heart and medical problems throughout his life.
"He was also a long-time season ticket holder at the Civic Opera," Jacobs said. "He loved to dance swing and jazz, Sam was recognized as a genius in an industry full of talented people."
Bezanis and Stephens had been together almost 36 years. Two years after Stephens died, Bezanis met Mark Jacobs, and the two men were together for 12 years, until Bezanis died. Bezanis was the brother of Rini Green, the late Steve and the late Nick ( Della ) , uncle of Aires ( Joe ) Lawlor, Brian ( Debra ) , Greg ( Amee ) , Stephanie, George and Petra Bezanis, great-uncle of Joe Jr., Jennifer, Nicholas, Mallory, Danica, Beth and William, son of the late Alex and Sophia Bezanis Oakley. Funeral services were July 22.
See Bezanis' 2007 interview with Tracy Baim for the Chicago Gay History Project at www.chicagogayhistory.org/biography.html. Photo this page by Hal Baim.
