If you feel you still haven\u2019t paid your respects to the dearly departed albino alligator Claude, there will be a large, public (and free!) \u201ccelebration of life\u201d for the deceased 30-year-old gator at the Golden Gate Bandshell.<\/p>\n
It is still a melancholy topic, particularly for frequent patrons of Golden Gate Park\u2019s California Academy of Sciences<\/a>, that the beloved 30-year-old albino alligator Claude<\/a> who resided there died in early December<\/a> from liver cancer<\/a>. His passing left an albino alligator-shaped hole not only at the Academy of Sciences, but in the collective morale of San Francisco.<\/p>\n But just like any well-known human being in San Francisco, Claude is now being set up with a very large public memorial and celebration of life<\/a> scheduled for 11 am on the morning of Sunday, January 18. The ceremony is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Golden Gate Bandshell at the Music Concourse just outside the California Academy of Sciences.<\/p>\n Claude\u2019s upcoming celebration of life ceremony was discussed Friday morning on a segment of KTVU\u2019s Mornings on 2<\/a>. It is mostly a garbage segment, focused primarily on a new claymation exhibit called \u201cTiny Chef, Big Impact\u201d that I cannot fathom will appeal to anyone. But at the 3:11 mark of this five-minute segment, the museum\u2019s associate director of brand marketing Christina Klingenberger-Valdez finally gets around to discussing the good stuff about Claude the Albino Alligator that people actually want to hear. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really excited that we\u2019re able to celebrate this big guy later this month, with a free celebration on January 18,\u201d she told KTVU. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have music, art, speeches, we\u2019re inviting everyone in the community to come join and celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n Following that ceremony (scheduled to wrap at 1pm), the Academy of Sciences says that inside the museum, they\u2019ll be hosting “special programming, craft activities, and an artisan marketplace featuring commemorative Claude souvenirs available for purchase from local vendors.\u201d That all requires a paid admission, so you can decide for yourself whether that sounds like it\u2019s worth $55 to get in.<\/p>\n On that KTVU segment, Klingenberger-Valdez was also asked if the museum was planning to get another reptile or critter to take Claude\u2019s place in that distinctive man-made swamp.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now we\u2019re just taking some time to sit with mourning for Claude,\u201d she said. \u201cBut we\u2019ll keep you posted on what happens next at the museum.\u201d<\/p>\n Though to bide your time until then, or until the Sunday, January 18 celebration of life ceremony, the Academy of Sciences has some Claude-themed Zoom backgrounds<\/a> and digital wallpapers<\/a> to keep that icy-white albino alligator fresh in your memory.<\/p>\n Related: Beloved Albino Alligator Claude, Mascot of the Academy of Sciences, Has Died [SFist]<\/a><\/p>\n