Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
Brian Bodecker Gale, whom many long-timers will remember from his Networking Club as well as his short-lived Shuangjing venue Hidden Lounge from a decade ago, passed away last night at Beijing United Family Hospital after a battle with cancer.
A Beijing resident since 2004, Gale was known as a consummate connector. His Network Club was a social organization that held regular networking parties from 2004 to 2011. He also was a frequent actor in Chinese films and television shows.
Gale had no family in Beijing to assist with his final weeks, but the Beijing community stepped up to help, raising money for palliative care and arranging to get him the attention he needed during a tough time when COVID-19 meant options were limited.
A WeChat group of over 100 formed to offer assistance where they could, and an amazing number of people and organizations helped, from friends and individuals who barely know Gale to organizations large and small that donated meals and medical services.
Friends remember him as a jovial personality that had a generous spirit.
Gale was born on June 27, 1961 in Winter Park, Florida to John Lawrence Gale and Tina Cleveland Platt. He attended Lake Highland Preparatory School and later Trinity Preparatory School near Orlando. Prior to moving to Beijing in 2004 he lived for four years in Dublin, Ireland.
He is survived by a sister, Kathleen McBroom, of Los Angeles.
Gale’s situation is a wake-up call to many expats who live in China without an adequate social safety net. Here are some tips on lining up health insurance for those that aren’t already insured.
Images: WeChat, ancestry.com
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admin
Submitted by Guest on Fri, 07/03/2020 - 07:14 Permalink
Re: Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
Some other times we've written about expats who have passed away while in Beijing:
2014 American Translator and Longtime Beijinger Sidney Shapiro Dies at 98
2015 Beijing's Expatriate Community Mourns the Loss of One of Our Finest: Mike Murphy of IQAir
2017 TRB Copper to Host Benefit for Cancer-Stricken China Daily Reporter Mike Peters, Aug 20
Glasgow Guy
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 21:46 Permalink
Re: Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
Very sorry to hear about Brian's death he was a friendly guy and definitely a character he also contributed to the music scene here in Beijing managing bands and organizing gigs back in the day. RIP my friend
WaqarOptimist
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 20:14 Permalink
Re: Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
God rest his soul.
But is it really appropiate/necessary to parade his pics on the first page?
Didn't know the beijinger has started placing obituaries next to "MacDonalds straws" and "Cheesy ice creams". Wonder when the last time was that that happened. Or is it just that some people's lives matter more?
I've been in Beijing almost 20 years. This is the first laowai I know who went so far as to die here. Apparently he was moderately well known. So it's at least as newsworthy as any niche-news story that gets space. (You know, the Liaoning Deaf Lesbian curling team qualifies for the Alternative Lifestyle Games of Asia quarterfinals, etc.)
There was one more laowai with the name "Mike Peters", who chose to die in Beijing. Also, it's how this website is built. Fresh items or blogposts animate like that, one after another.
Sikaote
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 17:42 Permalink
Re: Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
What's even more rare is for long time users to have their comments censored/delayed. Some comments are posted immediatey. Some take days.
Way to go TBJ!
Alienating your users is a sure way to increase clicks.
God rest his soul.
But is it really appropiate/necessary to parade his pics on the first page?
Didn't know the beijinger has started placing obituaries next to "MacDonalds straws" and "Cheesy ice creams". Wonder when the last time was that that happened. Or is it just that some people's lives matter more?
it's relatively rare for long-term expatriates who have been featured in our publication to die while still here in Beijing, so that's reason (a).
More importantly, having gotten to know Brian's situation over the past month, i knew that he had no relatives or friends that would likely write an obituary on his behalf (which usually is a job that falls upon the family of the deceased).
Gale may have not made an outsized impact on this world, but everyone deserves to be remembered somehow and somewhere.
As an avid (amateur) genealogist, i also recognize the importance of a published piece that will help interested future generations trace their family tree.
admin
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 17:05 Permalink
Re: Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
God rest his soul.
But is it really appropiate/necessary to parade his pics on the first page?
Didn't know the beijinger has started placing obituaries next to "MacDonalds straws" and "Cheesy ice creams". Wonder when the last time was that that happened. Or is it just that some people's lives matter more?
it's relatively rare for long-term expatriates who have been featured in our publication to die while still here in Beijing, so that's reason (a).
More importantly, having gotten to know Brian's situation over the past month, i knew that he had no relatives or friends that would likely write an obituary on his behalf (which usually is a job that falls upon the family of the deceased).
Gale may have not made an outsized impact on this world, but everyone deserves to be remembered somehow and somewhere.
As an avid (amateur) genealogist, i also recognize the importance of a published piece that will help interested future generations trace their family tree.
pengusius
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 13:36 Permalink
Re: Long-Term Expat American Brian Gale Passes Away
God rest his soul.
But is it really appropiate/necessary to parade his pics on the first page?
Didn't know the beijinger has started placing obituaries next to "MacDonalds straws" and "Cheesy ice creams". Wonder when the last time was that that happened. Or is it just that some people's lives matter more?
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