Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune - August 25, 2004
Barbara Sherlock, Tribune staff reporter
It is the void left by the death of Georgie "GiGi" Nicks, director of patient advocacy at the center and a national crusader for those with HIV, according to colleagues and admirers. She was diagnosed with the virus in 1990 and with AIDS four years later.
"GiGi had a very booming voice and ministerial speaking style," said Dr. Mardge Cohen, her friend, physician and the center's director of women's HIV research.
"She was extremely loud, passionate and incredibly articulate for people with HIV," Cohen said. "Many people with HIV don't have the same verbal skills and forthright endurance as GiGi to keep struggling and fighting. ... The sudden silence of all that strength is overwhelming for people to understand."
Ms. Nicks, 52, of Maywood, died of a heart attack Thursday, Aug. 19, in Stroger Hospital after suffering a heart attack in her office at the center.
Born in Cleveland, Miss., she worked for various philanthropic groups in Chicago before being diagnosed.
She then became one of Cohen's patients. Cohen at the time was the founder and director of the Women and Children HIV Program at Stroger Hospital.
Cohen hired her as an administrative assistant for the program and her advocacy burst forth. She quickly became a vocal mentor and role model for others in the program and was soon promoted to serve as its consumer advocate.
In 1998, the CORE Center was established by Cook County Bureau of Health Services and Rush University Medical Center to provide outpatient services to those with infectious diseases. The HIV programs at Stroger then moved to the center, and Ms. Nicks became the center's director of patient advocacy.
"GiGi was an icon at the center ... an in-your-face person always advocating for those who needed help," said Cohen. "Over the last two decades, those with HIV have had to fight for almost everything they got and GiGi was a part of that in a really strong way. Everybody here and in the country felt her passion and outspoken advocacy."
Ms. Nicks was a member of Chicago's first HIV committee and numerous prevention groups as well as a speaker at local and national events. In 1994, she became a founding board member of the Washington D.C.-based AIDS Policy Center for Children, Youth & Families, now known as AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families.
"GiGi was one of the earliest national leaders and spokespersons for women living with HIV," said David Harvey, executive director of the AIDS Alliance. "She had an enormous impact on the creation and delivery of family HIV services in the U.S. Her presence, advocacy, vision and passion are going to be sorely missed."
"She was very strong, intelligent, independent and determined," said her daughter, Sophia.
Ms. Nicks was twice married and divorced.
Other survivors include a son, Jabari Nicks; three sisters, Irene Gandy, Juanita Tipton and Debra Porter; and four brothers, George Whitehead, Dean Whitehead, Tommie Jones and LeMar Jones.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday in Wallace Funeral Home, 2020 W. Roosevelt Rd., Broadview, and continue at 10 a.m. Saturday in Rock of Ages Baptist Church, 1309 Madison St., Maywood, where services will be held at 11 a.m.
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