Soon, animal rights activists in the South Bay became aware of a tall man in a black shirt and black sneakers who brought injured animals into clinics, found homes for strays, and stopped on freeways to rescue hurt animals or set their bodies aside with words of respect.

Indeed, he tried never to pass a living thing in need, whether this meant driving a homeless person to a shelter, helping over-burdened single mothers in the street, or fighting against developers to save wetlands for migrating birds. As an activist, he also lobbied for such issues at the upper levels of politics and society. As an individual, he took loving care and gave a home to many stray cats, any birds or migrating ducks who visited the backyard, and a series of dogs, including an L.A. street dog named Mojo who soon was traveling back and forth by plane to New York when David also began to live there.

In April when he was first hospitalized for symptoms of primary brain lymphoma, he had been on the board of the Ark Trust and the Genesis Awards for five years, and was also a board member of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, and World Education Inc., a creator of nonformal education programs in developing countries. Together with Gloria Steinem, whom he married in the fall of 2000, he was exploring ways of organizing the women's, environmental and animal rights vote against the hostile policies of the Bush Administration. Indeed, when asked before each hospital test if he was allergic to anything, he always said,'Yes, George W. Bush.'

David Bale walked lightly on this earth, with few possessions, a great heart, and a rare ability to cross boundaries between people, countries, even species. He had a gift for living in the present, and for giving others the love and self-belief that he had missed as a child.

If each of us who loved him nurtures these qualities in ourselves, he will be with us still."