LGBT advocate made community, people in it, better
Jerry Mallicoat, DAYTON — co-founder and board chair of Rainbow Elder Care of GreaterDayton, died Friday, the organization reported Saturday. He was 60.
Mallicoat founded RainbowElder Care in 2013 after watching the documentary “Gen Silence” and reflecting on his experience caring for his aging parents. The organization’s goal is to provide advocacy, educational resources, support and referral services tothe elderLGBT communityandstraight allies in the Greater Dayton area in ways that affirmatively address their unique needs and enhance their quality of life, its Facebook page says.
MelissaRodriguezworked with Mallicoat through the REC and the LGBTQ Public Health Alliance, meeting him through an event that recognizedLGBTQveterans. Rodriguez, an Air Force veteran, wasnominatedandshe received a plaque and spoke at the event.
Rodriguez said that Mallicoat was a servant leader who provided leadership and mentorship and led by example.
“I was fortunate to meet him,” she said. “No one personcouldfillhisplace, there’s no one person that could fill that void in the LGBTQ
community.”
Mallicoat led the board and inspired RainbowElder Care with his passion, commitment and enthusiasm, the group’s Facebook page says, and was the catalyst for their success.
AlongwithhisworkatREC, MallicoatworkedwithPublic Health-Dayton&Montgomery County as the LGBTQ health initiatives programmanager. He examined causes of poor health service outcomes for LGBTQ people, developed policies and facilitated community engagement to eliminate health disparities in the LGBTQcommunity and collaborated with PublicHealth to improve LGBTQ health equity.
“He not only made the community a better place, but he made the people in thecommunitybetter,” Rodriguez said. “Hewould see the good and potential in people and touched so many lives.”