ST PAUL, Minn. — Joseph St. James and Paul Pfeifer’s love story always included music and performance.
But then, tragedy stopped the music. Joseph suffered unimaginable loss when his husband Paul was murdered.
“Paul was the love of my life,” Joseph said.
Paul was killed outside their home in Brooklyn Park, hit by a black SUV driven by Christopher Rice. Rice was a neighbor who’d been failed by a gap in Minnesota law exposed in a report by KARE 11 Investigates. Rice was suffering from mental illness and repeatedly accused of violence, but was found incompetent to stand trial and let go without treatment or supervision.
Paul eventually paid the price.
“He deserved to have a long life and he didn’t because we don’t take care of our mentally ill,” Joesph reflected.
It was a reality Joseph knows all too well. He’d cared for his husband through Paul’s own mental illness, only to lose him. The trauma of missing his longtime partner sent Joseph into a spiral.
“I was drinking, I had liver damage I spent every day on my basement floor, sobbing, grieving,” he recalls.
What ended that spiral, was Joseph coming to the realization that his mission was to advocate for change. That advocacy first took him to the State Capitol, where he helped push a bill to make sure people like Rice get treatment.
And now, it’s bringing him back to the stage. Joseph has created a show called “Guts and Glory: A Widower’s Cabaret,” which chronicles his life with Paul, the tragedy that stole him away and the redemption that came with taking action.
“It’s a musical, and it’s very moving and very funny and it’s fantastic music,” he said.
Proceeds will benefit Joseph’s new nonprofit, The Paul James Pfeifer Foundation.
“This mission is about standing firm that mentally ill people, no matter what their symptoms make them look like, have the same intrinsic value as every other human being.”
And yes – that even includes Christopher Rice, the man who killed Paul.
“I have to advocate for him just like I advocate for everybody else, otherwise I’m not doing it with integrity,” Joseph explained.
Tragedy may have paused Paul and Joseph’s music, but purpose helped him sing again.
“I had an incredible love affair with Paul Pfeiffer. And it’s still there. I just have more work to do.”
Go See It
"Guts and Glory: A Widowers Cabaret" opens Thursday night at the North Garden Theater on 7th Street in St. Paul, with performances Friday and Saturday evenings and a matinee on Sunday.
Tickets benefit The Paul James Pfeifer Foundation, supporting those with mental illness. You can find a link to purchase tickets on our website.
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