The first known AIDS related death in New York City was in the last month of 1980.  It was the fourth American known to have died from the disease.  From there the numbers grew continuously across the following years, until by 1995 the count in New York alone grew beyond that of all Americans killed in the Vietnam War.  But still today, in 2012, there is no memorial in New York City to this crisis which claimed so many of the country - and world's - greatest minds & talents, aside from a commemorative granite bench in Hudson River Park.  But it looks quite likely that this is about to change. (more…)