Source: Annie Sprinkle
By: Company Press Release
Dear Family, Friends, Colleagues, Community, Fans and Admirers of Candice Vadala aka Candida Royalle, This is to inform you, with heavy heart, that our beloved Candice left her ailing body this morning at 5:30 am.
She passed on peacefully from her beautiful country home in Mattituck, Long Island, NY, with the birds she loved singing outside her window, with her three cats on her bed, and while breathing the sweet and salty ocean air. The past few days she was superbly cared for by a few devoted friends, blood family and good hospice nursing care team. Angel of love, Veronica Vera oversaw most everything. Rock star of practical matters, Mary Dorman was instrumental in taking care of many important logistics. Candice’s only sister Cynthia Vadala flew in from California and her two cousins were there. Many other friends helped these past days and we can be so grateful to them, especially her dearly beloved Italian “brother” Michele Capozzi.
What happened…
The ovarian cancer that Candice had gracefully and stoically kept at bay for over five years finally became too much to bear. She had an incredible will to live, yet had suffered a lot of physical pain. Now she is free. A few weeks ago she had to go to the hospital for a few days. Her doctor, whom she loved a lot, told her she had run out of treatment options and to begin basic hospice care. She had planned to move to Manhattan this fall to be closer to more friends in what she thought would be her last few months or year. Then just about five days ago, Candice started slipping away quickly and it became evident that it was unlikely to recover.
Memorials…
Memorials in New York, LA and San Francisco will likely be held sometime around November, so that there is time for everyone to plan.
Cats…
Candice’s three beloved cats will be well taken care of. Candice’s sister Cynthia will stay with them for the next few weeks. If you or someone you know can offer a fantastic home, please write Barbara Carrellas with questions or offers: barbara@urbantantra.org
Obituaries, homages, journalists…
Obituaries informing the world of Candice’s many accomplishments and the great legacies she leaves will soon follow, no doubt. If you know and any newspapers, blogs or journalists who might want to write an obit, please send them this basic information below. She’d like that. For more about Candida Royalle go to candidaroyalle.com
In spite of Candice’s very public personae and career, Candice was a private person. She had told her confidants she wanted “peace and quiet” when passing without a lot of people knowing. Her wishes were respected. However, now we can all spread this news, so yes, please do write and post your homages if inclined.
Contact…
I can field any questions, concerns, media inquiries as needed. I’m on the road, so if I don’t get back to you right away, I will as soon as possible. anniesprinkle@me.com. You can call me, or give my phone number out if you have it. Leave a message if I don’t pick up. Also Jane aka Veronica Hart can field inquiries at janehamilton@roadrunner.com.
Love, hugs, and blessings to all,
Annie Sprinkle & Jane Hamilton (Veronica Hart), with assistance from Veronica Vera (who will write a personal letter soon).
Basic Bio:
Candida Royalle, DHS (Doctor of Human Sexuality) – Pioneering feminist filmmaker, Author, Entrepreneur
Candida was born on October 15, 1950, in Brooklyn New York, and spent most of her adult life in New York City, with some of her 1970s in San Francisco.
In 1984 Candida Royalle® stepped behind the camera, from “porn star” to director, to creating Femme Productions in order to produce adult films from a woman’s perspective. She is considered the mother of feminist porn and in launching the couples erotica market. She partnered with Dutch industrial designer Jandirk Groet in 1999 to create the ground-breaking line of Natural Contours® intimate products, launching a whole new vision in sex toy design, widely copied today.
Royalle gained international acclaim as a pioneer in female sexual empowerment and expression, and she became a sought-after speaker, lecturing extensively at such venues as the Smithsonian Institute, the World Congress on Sexology, and several universities and professional conferences. She’s been a guest on countless TV talk shows and written up everywhere from the New York Times to the Times of London.
In October 2004 Royalle authored, “How to Tell a Naked Man What to Do®” (Simon & Schuster/Fireside). Royalle was a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT); in 2014 she received a Doctorate in Human Sexuality for her life’s work from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. She was a founding member of Feminists for Free Expression (FFE), a long time animal rights champion. In 1985 Candice co-founded the first porn star support group, Club 90, of which she was an active core member until her death, and will continue to be a member in spirit. Candida Royalle leaves a great legacy.
