Several media sources have reported that Ted Gullicksen, executive director of the San Francisco Tenants Union, has died. According the Chronicle, a friend found the 61-year-old passed away in his bed Tuesday. Though the cause of his death was not immediately clear.
Gullicksen, a fierce advocate of tenants rights, was also an incredibly approachable source and authority on housing for many Mission Local reporters. Any time a reporter visited the the Capp Street headquarters of the Tenants Union, Gullicksen could be relied on to help answer technical and complex questions about San Francisco housing law. He always had his eye towards ensuring more people in the community were aware of their rights as a tenant—often with his small dog curled up by his feet.
The Chronicle’s report offers more remembrances from the likes of Board of Supervisor president David Chiu and Sara Shortt, director of the Housing Rights Committee:
“He was just so inspirational,” said Sara Shortt, the director of the Housing Rights Committee, who had worked with Gullicksen for more than a decade. “I think that all renters in San Francisco will be diminished by the loss of Ted to our movement. He was a tireless advocate for tenants and really led the charge for tenants rights in this city for over 30 years.”
…
“For all of the intense personalities at City Hall, Ted was an amazingly gentle, kind and decent human being,” said Board of Supervisors President David Chiu. “He really truly was one of my favorite people at City Hall.”
Several people took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to share their feelings of loss:
No words can capture how great a loss it is. Tenant hero @TedGullicksen has died. SF will never be the same http://t.co/sK8xE5ZQdc
— David Campos (@DavidCamposSF) October 14, 2014
I guess I feel about Ted Gullicksen the way many did about Robin Williams. I didn’t know him well, but I hate to think of SF without him. — ghoulia scary wong (@juliacarriew) October 14, 2014
We’ll follow up on this story when we have more.
Wow. The little conservatrolls here have hit a new low…reveling in someone’s death. Shows you what type of people they are.
The karma which results from desecrating those who have passed will resound painfully in your face, dark souled one.
You’re clearly not an iota of the man Ted Gullicksen was. He helped many other living beings through his efforts. Your filthy greed infested heart will experience payback.
I often disagreed with Ted Gulicksen’s message and tactics. But your spitting on his grave is what is really obnoxious.
RIP my friend. Love and respect for all you did in a life well lived and your service to others.
Yesterday was a bad day for San Francisco. Ted Gullicksen worked so hard for so many. RIP, brother, and thank you for your tireless and impassioned advocacy.