San Francisco lost one of its most enduring and unapologetic characters this week. Huntley Gordon — known to the city as Pope Dimentia the Last, or simply "Popie" — has died at 91. And if you're wondering how he spent his final night on Earth, the answer is perfect: dancing at the Electroluxx party, surrounded by music, friends, and the community he helped build over more than four decades.

That's not a eulogy embellishment. That's just how the man lived.

Pope Dimentia was a founding figure of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the iconic San Francisco order of queer activists known for their theatrical irreverence and genuine community service. For over 40 years, he was a fixture — bold, glamorous, and relentlessly present. His contributions went far beyond street theater. He co-founded a record label that helped bring Sylvester's music to the world. He co-founded a nonprofit that connected young people with art, film, and culture. In his later years, he kept showing up — working in a bookstore, connecting with people through the simplest and most human of exchanges.

Now, this publication doesn't always see eye-to-eye with every cause that flies under the progressive banner in San Francisco. But there's something we will always respect: a person who builds things. Who creates institutions, mentors young people, starts businesses, and contributes to the cultural fabric of a city without waiting for a government grant or a bureaucrat's permission slip. Pope Dimentia didn't petition City Hall for a program. He was the program — for decades, on his own terms, with his own resources and chosen family.

San Francisco is a city that loves to talk about its values. Popie just lived his. He opened doors, built community from the ground up, and proved that a life of service doesn't have to be joyless or institutional. It can be fierce, fabulous, and still going strong at 91 on a dance floor.

That's a legacy worth honoring — no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.

Rest in power, Popie.