Ady Barkan, a well-known lawyer and progressive activist whose life was the focus of the 2021 documentary “Not Going Quietly,” died at the age of 39.
Barkan’s wife, Rachael Scarborough King, revealed on Twitter that he passed away from problems associated with ALS.
In the tweet, she wrote, “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.”
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As the news of Barkan’s death made the headlines, several people were interested in his personal life.
Who is Rachael King?
Ady Barkan and Rachael King got married in 2009 after initially meeting when they were both undergraduate students at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Willow and Carl are their two children together.
At UCSB, Rachael is a distinguished professor of English with a focus on feminist media studies and digital humanities. Outside of the classroom, she is an ardent supporter of social justice, particularly concerning issues like healthcare accessibility and reproductive rights.
After Ady was diagnosed with ALS in 2016, Rachael became his primary caregiver. She also became a well-known spokesperson for ALS support and research, putting up great effort to spread the word about the illness.
Together, Rachael and Ady founded the non-profit Be A Hero Fund in 2018 to give financial support to ALS patients and their families. The fund also supports legislation aimed at improving the quality of life for ALS patients by promoting easier access to reasonably priced medical care and support services.
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Many find encouragement in Rachael’s persistent commitment as a wife, mother, and champion. Her efforts are having a noticeable effect on the lives of people with ALS and the people who love them.
