Truxon Sykes

TRUXON SYKES, social steward and philosopher, passed from lung cancer on Saturday, April 15th. Mr. Sykes will be sorely missed by thousands of Maryland residents who have benefited from his dogged determination to improve life for all people. He was a solid advocate for oppressed and exploited peoples. Truxon Sykes served with honor in the United States Army. He returned to Baltimore following this service to be involved in efforts to improve housing. This was followed by service as President and later Executive Director of the North East Community Organization and as an active member of the Pentridge Community Organization. Truxon helped found and support the Baltimore Homeless Union. While working with these organizations, Truxon helped thousands of people keep their homes, remain in them longer than developers wanted, gain repairs and improvements and obtain new homes. He was an important force in the development of 'drop in' shelters and permanent housing for the homeless in Baltimore and throughout Maryland. Truxon Sykes served as Treasurer of the White Lung Association and was very active to better the lives of those with asbestos disease. He was a consistent opponent of environmental degradation from toxic chemicals and an advocate of "Make the Polluters Pay". He recently represented the White Lung Association in Ottawa, Canada and Washington D.C. In addition to asbestos, Truxon's working life exposed him to harsh chemicals used in rocket maintenance and chrome and steel production. Truxon Sykes is known throughout the world as an advocate for the advancement of humanity. He addressed hundreds of meetings and conferences. He published The Body Universe in 1991 and A Guide to the Next Millennium in 1995. The Concept of the Body Universe was summarized as "We all are one, We share the same Soul, We share the same Body - The Body Universe." In The Use and Misuse of Universal Energy (2004), Truxon stated his view of the purpose for our lives. "We should be educating the global society that we have a purpose. We are part of a system to prevent death on all levels of existence. We are only biological entity with the ability to understand the nature of our universe. This means all the life forms that can comprehend the functions of the universe are charged with maintenance of all that is within that universe. Our role is not rulers, but servers of existence." He is survived by his loving sister-in-law, Frances Sykes, cousins Agatha Lansey and Gloria Harrel (Richmond, Va.), and devoted friends Howard Bridges, Julia Montgomery and James Fite. In addition, there are thousands who loved him and shared his vision that to survive, people must use their capacity to preserve and improve life.

Tributes

Truxon Sykes

June 21, 1943 - April 15, 2006