The death of Dr. Keith Francois March 17 was "sudden" and "unexpected" and not due to AIDS, said Melanie Husk, a principal in Husk Jennings Galloway + Robinson, advertising/PR firm based in Jacksonville, Fla.

Sources said that on March 15 Francois had a reaction to a medicine he had been taking and lapsed into unconsciousness. His brain had been deprived of oxygen for about two hours when he was discovered. Friends said he had appeared in good health.

Francois was the life partner of PRSA president Del Galloway, who has temporarily shifted his president's duties to president-elect Judith Phair.

Phair said she continues to function as president of the Society but is "talking to Del on a regular basis and he is engaged in the business of the Society."

While no date has been set for the resumption of the president's duties by Galloway, this is a "very short-term arrangement," said Phair.

PRSA had initially told leaders on Monday, March 15, that Galloway had given up his president's duties for at least the rest of the week because of a "family medical emergency."

The initial announcement said COO Catherine Bolton would take over his duties but this was later amended to say that Phair, the board of directors and Bolton would provide leadership.

Husk, who talked to Galloway and the Francois family about the subject of the cause of death of Francois, said she would not divulge the cause except to say that it was not AIDS.

Medical authorities in Clay County where Jacksonville is located said only the family can release the cause of death.

The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville ran a paid death notice on the death but no obituary.

The Church Point News of Church Point, La., where Francois grew up and where he was buried March 23, carried the same death notice that was in the Times-Union. There was no story.