by Donna Cunningham

My beloved friend, Jesse Portis Helm, was a working astrologer whose acute, often pungent, astrological observations and solid, common sense advice made his work popular with a large, ongoing clientele.

Not well-known in the astrology community nationally, he lectured and taught classes locally in Manhattan, later in the Raleigh-Durham area, and toward the end of his life in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was also a gifted Tarot reader and a student of things occult, including the Kabala.

His combination of Virgo Sun, Mercury, and Venus in Virgo opposite his Pisces Moon made him endlessly creative and yet painstakingly detailed in his work. For one memorable Christopher Street Halloween Parade in New York, he spent months recreating the entire set of costumes for Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding, right down to the dress of the Queen Mum. Naturally, he reserved the faithful rendition of Diana's long-trained gown for his own costume.

Jesse was an irreverant soul who delighted in practical jokes and could be counted on to say something scandalous on any occasion. The highpoint of his writing career was a column in Gentlemen's Quarterly for several years, in which he reviewed--and often skewered--the latest films, fashions, and trends.

I like to think of Jesse on the other side, as busy and active working for that cause as he was on this side. I miss him, though I often seem to hear his sardonic wit and wisdom at times when I am being particularly dense.

Donna Cunningham

According to the information Jesse gave me, he was born August 31, 1947, at 10:35 AM, EDT, Brooklyn, NY. Jesse was HIV+ for many years and lost his lover, Philip Weathers, to the disease. He worked hard at staying well and was a tireless activist in the AIDS community in Ft. Lauderdale. He succumbed to the disease in June, 1989.

To See His Chart

NOTE: Jesse, who sewed intricate and creative quilt blocks for so many fallen friends, does have a block on the real AIDS quilt, number 03197. To see it, visit www.aidsquilt.org.

The Astrology AIDS Quilt
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DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? This memorial is interactive, and we welcome your memories and tributes, which we will add to the page. We would also love to have photos to bring back vivid memories. (Photos will be scanned and returned.) To suggest names, share memories, create tributes, or volunteer, send us an e-mail.

CREDITS:The photo of Jesse that appeareed in Disconet came from the archives of Tom Savarese. The background is part of an elegant collection at Classical Themes. The stars came from clip art disks.