Jerry “The Faerie” Berbiar
Organizers Joey Cain and Stuart Siegel welcomed a large gathering of friends, attending both in person and online, to a celebration of life of Jerry “The Faerie” Berbiar at the San Francisco Columbarium on October 31, 2024. Photographer Rink attended representing the San Francisco Bay Times.
Sitting together in a Faerie Circle in the Columbarium’s ornate rotunda, participants viewed a slide show about Berbiar’s extraordinary life, including as a dedicated LGBTQ activist and member of the Radical Fairie community. They also joined hands and shared fond memories of their deeply missed friend who was much beloved.
The celebration of life, entitled “Flight of Faeries: A Jerry the Faerie Halloween Celebration and Remembrance,” called for attendees to wear “faerie drag, colorful attire, and costumes.” Berbiar’s legacy lives on, including in the Radical Faerie movement. As he said when the book The Fire in Moonlight: Stories from the Radical Fairies (White Crane Books) was published: “We need queers who have radical askance alternative viewpoints to dominant cultural mores. May the Radical Faerie movement continue to play its role in providing a cauldron of change so needed in this ignorant and repressive world.”
Roberto Carlos Arriaga
A beautiful altar dedicated to Roberto Carlos Arriaga (1991–2024) was erected at the 18th and Castro memorial space. Strewn with bright sunflowers surrounded by lit candles, the altar was the site of a vigil that was captured, in part, on video (https://bit.ly/3YUxraX). Friends described Arriaga as a “kind and gentle soul” who will be greatly missed.
Nathan Purkiss
A longtime leader of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and a former aide to Hon. Mark Leno, Nathan Purkiss (1967–2024) was widely known in the LGBTQ+ community for his capable service, grasp of political policies, and intellect.
A graduate of New York University, Purkiss earned a master’s degree from San Francisco State University in history with a concentration in gender studies.
Members of the San Francisco Bay Times team admired his community relations skills as well, having worked with Purkiss during his tenure on staff in Leno’s offices both in San Francisco and Sacramento.
Rink Remembers
Published on November 7, 2024
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