Claudelle Bazemore lived a life challenging misconceptions and presumptions.

The 60-year-old Hill District native began dressing as a woman at 16, replaced her given name, Clyde, with Claudelle, and chose to be known as a woman the rest of her life.

Often homeless, she never let that harsh reality invade upon her dreams of a better life or diminish her ever-present smile.

She was known to hundreds of Downtown workers, students and shoppers as a colorful, friendly fixture on Forbes Avenue near Smithfield Street where she panhandled for money for life's necessities.

Behind the flamboyant clothing, hats and makeup was a fertile mind filled with a knowledge and curiosity of numerous fields.

She rose above discrimination and cruelty directed at her lifestyle, race and homelessness to live a life remembered for touching and inspiring others and defending life's less fortunate.

Claudelle died Saturday from heart disease in bed in her Garfield apartment.

"God was merciful," said Jacquet Bazemore, who said he feared his brother would die at the hands of a bigot or from the elements.

"He has immortality because he enlivened so many people, he gave so much encouragement, he touched a lot of folks, a cross-section of people," said Mr. Bazemore, a former kick-boxing champion.

"Downtown is not going to be the same. I'm going to miss seeing that smiling face every day," said Debbie Bartz, manager of the CVS at 429 Smithfield St., where Claudelle situated herself daily along a side wall on Forbes Avenue. Until she secured housing seven years ago, that's where she slept, too.

Twelve years ago today, Claudelle was the subject of a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette front-page profile in which she revealed she became homeless in 1994 after a fire destroyed her apartment. She held jobs mostly in sales but also in the restaurant, paralegal and day-care fields. A social worker quoted in the article said Claudelle lost a number of positions when employers discovered she was a man dressing as a woman.

A former singer in the Renaissance City Choir, Claudelle reveled in discussing with a reporter her love of astronomy, biographies, history and people. From her large pile of garbage bags, boxes and cartons stacked against the CVS building, she pulled out books, including "Robinson Crusoe," "Confessions of St. Augustine," "Crime and Punishment" and "The Odyssey."

After the article, Claudelle became something of a minor celebrity, accommodating college journalism students who wanted to write about her as well as professional reporters who sought her views on issues affecting homeless people.

"She referred to herself as a spokesperson for the homeless," said Erica Smith, a case manager with Community Human Services Corp. in Oakland.

Ms. Smith began working with Claudelle in 2002, getting her into an apartment in Friendship. Claudelle was evicted when the property was sold, but the agency secured her temporary housing for a time before placing her in Garfield.

"She was as upbeat as she ever was," Ms. Smith said. "She continued to stay out and panhandle because she considered that her job. A lot of people knew her and loved her. She was very intelligent. Colorful and engaging are two excellent words to describe her.

"She was a champion chess player and was very well versed in astronomy, mythology, history, current events. She read the newspaper every day. She was a very artistic, very articulate person."

Liz Bliss, Claudelle's most recent case worker, said Claudelle touched many lives, including her own. "She called me her angel but she was mine," said Ms. Bliss, who experienced role reversal with Claudelle counseling and comforting her when the two would get together.

"She looked at life a different way. If someone was having a bad day, she'd flip it around and say, 'Well, tomorrow has to be better.' She didn't let things pull her down."

When she could afford it, she would take in a play. She attended free concerts and regularly went to the library to use the Internet, Ms. Bliss said.

Part of her joy and personality, Ms. Bliss said, was being "extremely flamboyant. She loved it, that was her facade. She did not like to be ordinary. Flashy color, hats, a big smile, a real long braid on the back of her hair, eye makeup, rosy cheeks, lipstick. She was a walking jewelry store with two rings on every finger."

Max Nickel, vice president of RNC Real Estate in North Oakland, which rented Claudelle her apartment, said she was a model tenant. More important, he said, she was a model human being, one who had profoundly affected his view of homelessness.

"It's a side of life we don't like to look at, do we? You give a dollar and say, 'Leave us alone' but she showed me they aren't statistics, they are people with a story if you'll only stop to listen," Mr. Nickel said.

In addition to her brother, she is survived by her father, Clyde, of Carnegie; four sisters, Pauline Washington of Downtown, Jacqueline Ganaway of the Hill District, Marlene Bivens of the North Side and Terrilyn Greene of East Liberty; and two other brothers, Jerome Greene of Carnegie and Rodney Greene of East Liberty.

A private memorial service will be held in Munhall on Feb. 22, Claudelle's 61st birthday. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the nonprofit Community Human Service Corp., 3201 Craft Place, Pittsburgh 15213.

The agency will hold a celebration of life for Claudelle tomorrow at noon where she spent much of her life -- alongside the CVS on Forbes Avenue near Smithfield.

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