Val John Mansfield

Nov 17, 1956-Sepember 9, 2015

Long-time gay activist Val Mansfield died September 9 with friends and family by his side. Mansfield had been heavily involved in Utah’s LGBT community since the 1980s and was for decades known for being the graphic designer of every Pride celebration and many organizations.

He most recently served on the board of QUAC—Queer Utah Aquatic Club—and traveled to international meets, where he consistently placed. He also competed in the International Gay Games in Chicago and Cologne, Germany. He previously served on the boards of the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah, Desert & Mountain States Lesbian and Gay Conference, Utah Stonewall Center, and the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Salt Lake. He was also a member of Queer Nation, Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats, and, later, Utah Stonewall Democrats. Mansfield also represented Utah at three LGBT “Marches on Washington” in 1987, 1993, and 2009. and designed the T-shirts worn by those delegations. He was awarded the Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award in 1993. Friends knew him for his dry wit and constant, quirky smile.

The youngest of 7 children, Val was born in Vernal, Utah, on November 17, 1956, to Henry A. and Mildred L. Mansfield. He attended BYU, where he majored in Germanic languages, then served an LDS mission in Finland. He had a lifelong career as a printer and graphic artist. He is survived by his mother, Mildred Mansfield (Vernal), brothers Leon Mansfield (Vernal), Loren Mansfield (Anchorage, Alaska), Wynn Mansfield (Vernal), and Marc Mansfield (Vernal), and sisters Dana Colovich (Vernal) and Ramona Rogers (Sheridan, Wyoming). He was preceded in death by his father, Henry A. Mansfield, and by his partner, John Flint. QUAC will present a “Pink Flamingo” synchronized swimming memorial at the Fairmont Park Pool at 12 noon on Sunday, September 20th, after which we will congregate at Club Tryangles.Online condolences can be shared at www.evans-earlymortuary.com.

Val John Mansfield