Famed AIDS and gay-rights activist Eric Rofes has died of a heart attack, PageOneQ.com reported. He was 51.

According to the Web site www.ericrofes.com , Rofes was a longtime activist who worked on issues ranging from gay and lesbian liberation to economic justice. As such, he was part of numerous projects and organizations, including the Boston Lesbian & Gay Political Alliance ( which he founded ) and the Shanti Project, an AIDS organization located in San Francisco.

In addition to being a crusader, he was an educator, teaching education at California's Humboldt State University ( HSU ) . Prior to HSU, Rofes taught at the University of California-Berkeley and Maine's Bowdoin College. A writer as well, Rofes published a dozen books on various subjects.

Condolences immediately poured in from across the country upon hearing of Rofes' passing. 'Words cannot express the loss we all feel,' Matt Foreman of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued in a statement. 'For more than 30 years, Eric was our movement's visionary. He pushed us to be better, to never lose sight of what our movement for liberation is all about, and to love each other, fight for each other and celebrate our community.'

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese added that Rofes 'was a leader in the best sense of the word and his loss will be deeply felt by the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement.'

Rofes is survived by his partner, Crispin Hollings, and his extended family. According to Gay.com, a memorial service was held June 28 in Provincetown, Mass., while a community memorial service will be held July 15 at the Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco.