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Donald Bechler Obituary
Don Bechler, 73 passed away on Oct 24th, 2020. He was an iconic national figure of the single payer movement. Born in Detroit, he attended Monticello High and Cal State University, Los Angeles. Don dedicated his life to social justice and was a tireless organizer and leader in the fight for universal health care. His energy, optimism, dedication, love and laughter will be long remembered. He was a great inspiration and will be dearly missed by the thousands of people whose lives he touched.
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Memories and Condolences
for Donald Bechler
Dr. Claudia Chaufan
October 23, 2023
We will always remember Don with affection and admiration, and the feeling that he left us too soon. Julian and Claudia
Elizabeth de Mahy
May 19, 2021
Don was the best organizer I've ever met, and I felt inspired by him from the first day I met him. He was the real deal, and on top of that was just a fantastic human being--instantly easy to talk to with a great sense of humor and a wonderfully adventurous spirit. He knew the importance of acknowledging volunteers' efforts both big and small, of making spaces that were FUN where good organizing could happen, of making hard asks, and of walking the walk. He was and is an absolute treasure. Peace to you, Don, wherever you are. Your spirit lives on in our hearts and in the good fight. I feel so lucky to have known you.
Alice Lindstrom
March 6, 2021
Thank you for the hope that Universal healthcare can become a reality and a vision of goal this can happen. Thank you for making it possible for so many to participate in the progress. Best wishes and n your new life. From Alice Lindstrom Davis
Angela Habr
February 4, 2021
Don, you’re great! What would this world have been without our “lone molecule,” this guy who was funny, smart as heck with huge heart. His passion for fairness, his love of people and nature, his informed commentary on the absurdities of the way things are... my life is better because he was in it, the people around me may not have met Don, but he comes through in the things I say, the ways I treat them, and I learned so much about that from Don. Thank you for your legacy, dear friend, you live on through us. Love and laughter to you, wherever your molecule wanders...
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Ligia Montano
January 22, 2021
I admired his commitment to fight for Single Payer, his creativity to make banners for rallies and conferences. Always motivating people to continue to fight for health justice. I remember him in any event smiling and wearing his Single Payer hat. I'll miss him.
Dana daley
December 10, 2020
I met cousin don bout 30 years ago when he was visiting his mom in Michigan -and we hung out for a few weeks. Very fun interesting guy! I wish we didn’t live so far from one another . Makes me proud to know he fought hard for what he believed in
November 24, 2020
just learned of this special person's passing and am still in a state of disbelief. He was a comrade in arms in the struggle to achieve health care for all, a single payer system in this nation. No one before and none after shall take his place as a principled mensch in this world. RIP Don, you earned it. proud to have known you.
Nugget
November 12, 2020
Don and a bear. Circa 1995.
A great backpack and road trip companion!
Nieves Zimmerman
November 4, 2020
Don was our neighbor and dear friend from 2014-2020,after I met my partner. He was kind to our family and would visit often telling stories from his life, sharing laughs, and making memories. He would often leave little toys for our daughter to find, would let her hang out and even help make signs for whatever protest he was prepping for, and was an active member of our daily lives. My daughter loves him dearly and considered him one of her best friends. He would go ok hikes with us, showing us places he liked to visit and invite us to events and gatherings around SF. He was feisty and never gave up on what he believed. I am missing him so much already and am so very great full for the time our family got to spend with him. May he rest in power.
Mark Crane
November 4, 2020
Don lived next door to me from 2012 until I moved out in June 2020. I cherished his visits and considered Don a brother. He is a true American patriot as he fought for his views within our system. He never gave up on his values, goals and beliefs despite all barriers. I will think of you until my last day.
“All the tired horses in the sun, how am I supposed to get any riding done.” -Bob Dylan.
Mark Crane
November 4, 2020
A American patriot! He fought for his beliefs as a true American should do. We love you Don! -All The Tired Horses -Bob Dylan.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/all-the-tired-horses/717158883?i=717159042
Chris Peterson
November 4, 2020
Each of my memories of Don brings a smile to my face. He was a believer in people and was always fighting for a more perfect union. He inspired me to believe stronger and fight harder for the causes I support. Thank you Don for memories, the stories, and the laughs...
Tom Gallagher
November 3, 2020
I met Don during the 1994 Prop 186 Single Payer Health Insurance campaign. He never stopped campaigning on the issue. There was no one else like him. Sorry he won't be around when it finally happens.
Walter Tsou
November 3, 2020
Don was simply the best dedicated organizer for single payer in the Nation. He didn't sit behind a desk strategizing or complaining. He just went out and put up his table and signed people up. A few a day over many, many years became a list of tens of thousands of names. His patience and dedication is unmatched anywhere. He used to say, "thou art great"! when people helped him. I can't say enough good things about Don. He will be missed. Don, you were great!
Lyn Gullette
November 2, 2020
Don taught us how to organize at the people level. He was so generous with his advice, dedication, inspiration. Then he came to Colorado to knock doors for us when we worked on Amendment 69, state single-payer, grieved with us as the results came in. Thank you, Don!!
Claudia Chaufan
November 2, 2020
You've been an inspiration for so long Don. Julian and I will miss you. I'll never Forget how much I learned from your experience and wisdom towards the building of a better world.
Ann Megan Rovere
October 31, 2020
His dedication, persistence and good humor in the face of overwhelming opposition to single payer, health care for all was epic. Although, to the best of my knowledge Covid did not kill him, it's presence and the shut down took his mission and ability to continue to organize as he had for over a quarter of a century away.
Ellen Shaffer
October 30, 2020
Don dedicated decades of smart, strategic campaigning to the fight for a single payer health care system in CA & the U.S. He was always an ally. I ‘ll miss him .
Rita Valenti
October 30, 2020
Don's spirit of persistence and the necessity to create massive data bases for M4A, inspired so many in the movement for single payer healthcare: Everyone In and No One Out! Let's honor his legacy by securing healthcare for all, Medicare for All NOW!
Lisa Patrick-Mudd
October 30, 2020
Don was one of a kind, an original and the best kind of human. Salt of the earth, compassionate and always striving to do better. He helped me find my way as a young activist & organizer in the single payer movement, and taught me so much about people, the world and myself. I'm forever grateful for the positive impact he made on my life, and I'll always hear his voice telling me "you are great". That makes me smile.
Rob Leslie
October 30, 2020
I first met Don in 2008, as he was actively preparing a mail-out campaign before the election. I was humored by his clever turns of phrases. Don was obviously a highly intelligent man, and we are all better people because of his compassion and his hard work devoted to a cause he believed in, not for himself, but for the community around him!
Nancy Schiff
October 29, 2020
Don was a thoughtful, compassionate person who dedicated his life to the difficult, daunting battle to achieve access to health care for all in the United States. He made a difference. He's passed the torch to us to keep fighting for health care as a human right. Rest in power, Don.
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