Dayton LGBT advocate, founder of Rainbow Elder Care dies

Melissa Rodriguez worked with Mallicoat through the REC and the LGBTQ Public Health Alliance, meeting him through an event that recognized LGBTQ veterans. Rodriguez, an Air Force veteran, was nominated and she received a plaque and spoke at the event.

Rodriguez said that Mallicoat was a servant leader who provided leadership and mentorship and led by example.

“I was fortunate to meet him,” she said. “No one person could fill his place, there’s no one person that could fill that void in the LGBTQ community.”

Mallicoat led the board and inspired Rainbow Elder Care with his passion, commitment and enthusiasm, the group’s Facebook page says, and was the catalyst for their success.

Along with his work at REC, Mallicoat worked with Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County as the LGBTQ health initiatives program manager. He examined causes of poor health service outcomes for LGBTQ people, developed policies and facilitated community engagement to eliminate health disparities in the LGBTQ community and collaborated with Public Health to improve LGBTQ health equity.

“He not only made the community a better place, but he made the people in the community better,” Rodriguez said. “He would see the good and potential in people and touched so many lives.”