Ady Barkan, 1983-2023

November 2, 2023 7:49 AM

Healthcare activist Ady Barkan has died of complications of ALS at the age of 39.

Barkan's wife Rachael Scarborough King's statement on X (sorry) reads:

Hi all, this is Ady’s wife, Rachael. I’m devastated to share the news that Ady has died from complications of ALS. You probably knew Ady as a healthcare activist. But more importantly he was a wonderful dad and my life partner for 18 years.

Ady fought for the 24/7 care he needed to be home with us until the end of his life. It’s impossible to thank his incredible caregivers enough for their labor and care, which allowed us to live as a family through Ady’s health challenges. Everyone should have that chance.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Ady and our family over the years—from the amazing caregivers who became family to us to the activists facing their own health challenges who joined the movement he was building
@BeAHero

Previously.

NYT Obituary (gift link)

Not Going Quietly documentary about Barkan.

House testimony, 2018.

posted by Lyn Never (36 comments total)

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posted by cmfletcher at 7:56 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by Glinn at 7:58 AM on November 2, 2023

I followed him on X/Twitter. My gosh, he fought and fought. I forgot he was still so young. This is so sad.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:59 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by trip and a half at 8:02 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by gauche at 8:04 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by Arch1 at 8:05 AM on November 2, 2023

Literal hero in every sense. I aspire to even a shred of his bravery, may his memory be a blessing.
posted by windbox at 8:06 AM on November 2, 2023 [9 favorites]

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posted by LobsterMitten at 8:12 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by Schmucko at 8:28 AM on November 2, 2023

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I, too, followed Ady on Twitter (when twitter was a thing). What a courageous man, and what a scourge of a disease.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:35 AM on November 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

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posted by socialjusticeworrier at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by sockshaveholes at 8:55 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by GenjiandProust at 9:16 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:17 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by stray at 10:19 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by praemunire at 10:40 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by a faded photo of their beloved at 11:06 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by jraz at 11:21 AM on November 2, 2023

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posted by dawkins_7 at 12:20 PM on November 2, 2023

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He was 39. He made the most of the time he was given. We should all work to have a fraction of the impact he had.
posted by anastasiav at 12:24 PM on November 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

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posted by klanawa at 12:40 PM on November 2, 2023

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posted by kensington314 at 12:57 PM on November 2, 2023

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posted by hydra77 at 1:00 PM on November 2, 2023

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posted by little king trashmouth at 1:28 PM on November 2, 2023

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posted by ltl at 1:43 PM on November 2, 2023

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I met Ady a few years back at a healthcare for all rally. Amazing guy.
posted by Rykey at 1:55 PM on November 2, 2023

He is a former resident and graduate of the HS here in my small So Cal town (Claremont). Lots of people are sharing remembrances of him as a "great kid" before he became a force of nature.

Rest well.
posted by pantarei70 at 2:27 PM on November 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

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posted by james33 at 3:02 AM on November 3, 2023

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posted by gentlyepigrams at 9:36 AM on November 3, 2023

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posted by Toddles at 10:43 PM on November 4, 2023

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posted by mcbeth at 6:16 PM on November 8, 2023