October 16, 2003
Source: The Associated Press
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-araya163496878oct16,0,2506542.story
On October 16, 2003 The Associated Press reported that Dharmachari Aryadaka, a former prison inmate who became Washington state's first paid Buddhist prison chaplain, has died at 55 of hepatitis C. As he became increasingly ill, Arydaka did volunteer work in the state's prisons, and became the state's first paid Buddhist prison chaplain in 2000.