Thousands of Bay Area residents gathered in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on Jan. 18 for a memorial service befitting a local icon: Claude, the albino alligator who lived for three decades at the California Academy of Sciences.
An estimated 2,000 people attended the free event, titled Claude Forever: A Celebration of Life, at the park’s Bandshell, marking the passing of the rare reptile, who died last month at age 30 after being diagnosed with liver cancer. Claude was hatched in Louisiana and became one of the Academy’s most recognizable and beloved residents after arriving as a young alligator unlikely to survive in the wild.
The memorial blended New Orleans tradition with San Francisco flair. MJ’s Brass Boppers led a jazz funeral procession, honoring Claude’s Southern roots, while speakers, performers and community members reflected on the alligator’s outsized cultural impact. The event also featured a costume contest, children’s activities, and craft and face-painting tables, underscoring the family-friendly atmosphere that surrounded Claude throughout his life.
Children played a central role in the celebration. Storytime was hosted by Mychal Threets and San Francisco Drag Laureate Per Sia, who read books emphasizing themes of belonging, difference and connection. The focus on youth echoed the way generations of visitors first encountered Claude through quiet observation at the Steinhart Aquarium.
Elected officials and community leaders also took part, including California State Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, who reflected on Claude as a steady presence in a city full of landmarks and personalities. State Senator Scott Wiener and Academy Executive Director Scott Sampson were among other speakers.
Laughter punctuated the remembrance when Steinhart Aquarium Senior Director Bart Shepherd shared stories from Claude’s long life, including a famously complicated effort to retrieve a shoe the alligator once swallowed. The recovered ballet flat made a surprise appearance on stage.
The celebration culminated with a costume contest for children, adults and even pets, many dressed in white or wearing homemade Claude-themed outfits. Winners described Claude as a symbol of vulnerability, resilience and shared responsibility.
The city marked the occasion with a lasting tribute. District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and Recreation and Parks General Manager Sarah Madland announced the renaming of a nearby street as Claude the Alligator Way.
Handwritten notes posted around the park thanked attendees for honoring an animal who, in life and in death, embodied San Francisco’s embrace of the uncommon.
Source: KQED