DAVID BRUDNOY, American radio personality died (b. 1940); a popular talk show radio host in Boston from 1976 to 2004. Most recently, his regular commentary show aired on WBZ radio. He is most widely known for espousing his libertarian views on a wide range of political issues.

Brudnoy came out publicly in 1994, after returning from hospitalization to overcome his long-hidden fight with HIV-AIDS. Having attracted a largely conservative audience based on his political views, traditional anti-homosexual conservatives rejected him, though others admired him for his courage. The controversy was rekindled somewhat after the release in 1997 of his autobiography, Life Is Not a Rehearsal, in which he described a history of sexual excesses.

Brudnoy did not attempt to mask his sexuality during his adult life, but also made no direct indications of it; it was well-known among his colleagues in broadcasting long before he spoke publicly about it. His closest and oldest friend was psychologist Dr. Ward Cromer, with whom he took dozens of trips abroad, and who was incorrectly assumed by many to be Brudnoy’s partner. Neither of them used that phraseology to describe their relationship, preferring a more accurate title of “best friend”.