Barrett Lindsay-Steiner, a renowned drama teacher, composer, and singer, has been working on a new project that honors the life of his late partner, Carl Daddio. Lindsay-Steiner made a quilt panel for Daddio after he passed away in 1994 from AIDS-related complications. The panel is now on display at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco as part of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. When asked about meeting Daddio’s family and seeing the quilt, Lindsay-Steiner was overcome with emotion.
Lindsay-Steiner met Daddio in 1981 through a mutual friend who introduced them after noticing Daddio watching one of Lindsay-Steiner’s performances as Virginia senator Richard Henry Lee in the musical “1776”. They started dating soon after and became an iconic couple in the theater community. They co-starred in several shows, including “South Pacific” and hosted Murder Mystery Dinner Theater nights at their home.
Lindsay-Steiner recalled that Daddio was diagnosed with AIDS six months before his death, which took a toll on both of them but ultimately led to a deeper connection between Lindsay-Steiner and his partner. After Carl’s passing, Lindsay-Steiner dedicated himself to creating a quilt panel for him and later made one for himself as well.
The story highlights the love, loss, and resilience that Lindsay-Steiner and Daddio shared. With the AIDS Memorial Quilt block on display at Grace Cathedral, their legacy lives on.
Source: https://www.ebar.com/story/160624/News/Gay%20couple%E2%80%99s%20connection%20lives%20on%20in%20quilt%20panels