Here we want to highlight some of the bears who have left us. Let us know who you want featured here, and what information is out there: personal memories, pictures, published obituaries, articles and books they’re written. As this section grows, we can create a page, with pages added within that, if needed.
Anything to add? Contact us.
IN_Memory_2024_08_01
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Nickname / Handle | sort | image | Legal name | Approx. date of death | Approx. posting date | Brief life description | Links | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Chris Nelson | Nelson | 2023-07-09 | ||||||
| 2 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Danny Williams | Williams | 2023-07-09 | ||||||
| 3 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Eric Rofes | Rofes | 2023-07-09 | ||||||
| 4 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Fran Frisch | Frisch | 2022-01-01 | ||||||
| 5 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-18 01:42 PM | John Burrows | Burrows | 2023-06-01 | 2023-05-20 | I just the news of the passing of John Burrows. He was the founder of Provincetown Bear Week (photo attached). John, along with Dave Thompson (who passed away several years ago) myself founded the Provincetown Bears. From John Burrows ‘ former husband and dear friend Chris Ricciotti. John was one of the founders of BearWeek and Provincetown bears, RIP John. Friends, I am very deeply saddened to report that my friend, and former husband, John Burrows, has passed away. John and I were married on November 15th, 2008 in Rockland Mass, as witneesed by many of our long time friends. I am still trying to get my head around all this, and I wanted to let all of you who knew and loved him of this news. Please do pass on this information to those that knew him. I will be posting pictures past pictures of John within the next day or so, in honor of his memory, partnership with me, and our friendship. Feel free to message me individually, and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner. Please remember John in your prayers and I pray and sincerely hope that the good times and wonderful memories we shared with John will be a blessing to us all. Hugs all around… Chris R [May 2023] |
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| 6 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Lurch | Sutton | Michael Sutton | 2005-12-08 | 2023-06-01 | Tribute on Facebook by Mel . Posted 15 June 2018, referencing a BOSF Community Forum post with video: “Remembering my good friend Lurch. He worked as a nurse and was an MC at dozens of LGBT/AIDS events over the years. He acted in several TV commercials and was the model on a series of greeting cards. He was one of the founders of Bears of San Francisco and I was his first Vice-President. He was both lovable and cranky, witty and grumpy, wise and sometimes foolish, he was in other words a wonderful and memorable person. I miss him still.” | FB pic from Bill Barrick, posted 5 March 2014: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10203404500417131&set=a.2232804783545 FB-posted video, from 13 June 2015: (originally posted by Jack Sugrue) https://www.facebook.com/1200382601/videos/10206857477454389 IDMB entry: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1697010/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk&fbclid=IwAR3MGE9MieXnM-16X9AVzzh8tBmsT842R_Y2gtIEzsOugenFQdlSGg_Sk_I Ebar article: https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=obituaries&id=247579&fbclid=IwAR3uMLsuwtOo598lQlqO3IajXkWor0ShPYnaGdrXB2xUVEdHKjGQVixtm6A | ||
| 7 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Lynn Ludwig | Ludwig | 2022-01-01 | ||||||
| 8 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Mark Katzenberger | Katzenberger | Mark Katzenberger | 2022-12-05 | 2023-12-18 | From Mark’s LinkedIn: “Jan 1997 – Present · 27 yrs Jan 1997 – Present · 27 yrs Social Services I led a great group of big, hairy gay guys to raise lots of money and do community service at the turn of the millennium. BOSF still is a vital organization dedicated to raising funds for charities in SF and beyond. While I served on the Board of Directors (2000-2004, 2010) and President (2002-2004) I led the move to increase the club’s online presence and to add the ability to schedule volunteering, and online registration for our major event “International Bear Rendezvous.” Since its founding in 1994, the 501(c)3 charitable organization has contributed over $500,000 to a number of charities at the local, state, and national level. Since passing leadership to newer generations, I continue to contribute and volunteer with BOSF.” | https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkatzenberger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/236617766416449?multi_permalinks=5700285206716317&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen | ||
| 9 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Mark Thompson | Thompson | 2023-07-09 | ||||||
| 10 | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Phil | 2024-08-01 05:55 PM | Martin Foster Swinger | Swinger | 2023-09-07 | 2021-07-05 | Bear singer | https://www.williamsfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Martin-Swinger/?fbclid=IwAR0t7R7y69ZLlr_Zory9yWrwIQ2MQr_gu4pwH1r7iTIOyQpke5E0C7nREsE#!/Obituary |