Recently identified victims

Barrett Clark Age: 35

Home: Oakland Barrett Clark was a driving force of the Bay Area electronic music scene, a top-notch professional sound engineer who was working at the Ghost Ship the night of the fire. “He did the sound because he wanted to make the musicians sound as good as they possibly could,” said Michael Buchanan, who collaborated with Clark on various projects. “We knew that place was unsafe — we had many conversations about it. But he chose to take the risk because it was outweighed by his intense feelings of generosity.” Clark lived in Oakland but grew up in Santa Rosa, graduating from Santa Rosa High School in 1999. A friend called him “a true pillar of the Bay Area DIY music scene for many, many years,” and said he did sound for a living at venues such as the Bottom of the Hill, Mezzanine, The Independent and 1015 Folsom. Buchanan said he met Clark 16 years ago at the Autonomous Mutant Festival, an underground music festival held at different Pacific Northwest wilderness locations each year. Clark became a core member of Buchanan’s music collective, Katabatik, which he described as a music collective with tendrils through the whole West Coast. Buchanan said his friend was “funny and just the most fullof-life kind of person that I’ve ever met,” a vibrant man with “a great love for the outdoors and a fearless sense of adventure.” — Eric Kurhi Michelle Sylvan Age: 37

Home: Oakland Michelle Sylvan was remembered by friends and family as a free and creative soul. The 37-yearold died alongside her partner, 61-year-old Wolfgang Renner, according to several friends who posted on Facebook. Like Sylvan, Renner was described as “one of a kind,” a free spirit who was a fixture in the underground electro and goth music scene. “His lovely, wildly creative partner Michelle was a potent visionary and was always up for life’s adventure,” wrote Robert Janca, a friend of the couple, on Facebook. “The world is a decidedly less colorful one without them. So long dear souls. Thank you for the treasures you shared.” Gabriel Hess, who shared photos of Sylvan in a black coat and sunglasses, posted: “Her talent and beauty left me awe-struck at times. “They had an eternal, beautiful, loving relationship that will now span the afterlife as well,” she added. — Tatiana Sanchez Nicholas Walrath Age: 37

Home: Oakland Two months ago, Nicholas Walrath launched the next phase of what was already a prestigious legal career, joining Durie Tangri, a small civil litigation firm in San Francisco, as an associate. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was known for his intellect and genuine warmth. He was the valedictorian of Allderdice High School, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With a bachelor’s in physics and philosophy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he explored several career paths, including laboratory scientist and atomic physics, before settling on law. In 2013, after he graduated from the New York University School of Law, Walrath and his girlfriend moved to California. Here, he clerked for Judge Jon S. Tigar, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and Judge Carlos T. Bea, for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. On the night of the warehouse fire, he texted his long-term girlfriend, Alexa Adams-Bourke, according to The Associated Press: “fire, I love you.” Authorities found Walrath’s bicycle outside the warehouse. He had biked five miles to the party that night “in a spontaneous decision to socialize and enjoy music,” according to the PostGazette. Tigar said in a statement that Walrath was an “exceptional” law clerk. “Nick brought his brilliant intellect, cogent writing skills, curiosity, and relentless work ethic to everything he did,” the judge said. “Even more than his considerable legal talents, Nick also brought his sterling personality, his generosity, his good humor, and his love of life.” — Michelle Quinn Peter Wadsworth Age: 38:

Home: Oakland Peter Wadsworth was the kind of person who made others feel special, said friends who described him as a creative genius. His longtime friend, Tammy Tasoff, said Wadsworth would buy her video games simply because he knew she loved them. “Usually he’d say, ‘Let’s play video games,’ and then he’d say, ‘No, I just want to watch you play,’” she told The Associated Press, sobbing. “He’d make me food. He took really good care of me. He was like my big brother.” Wadsworth was the only victim who had been living at the warehouse. It’s not clear if he attended the electronic dance party on the second floor, where most of the victims died, or if he was at home the night of the fire. Wadsworth, who often posted articles on environmental and health issues, technology and kittens to his Facebook page, was described by those close to him as someone with a wealth of knowledge who constantly blew people away with his intelligence. Originally from Boston, Wadsworth studied psychology at Harvard University and Reed College, according to his Facebook page, where he described himself as an independent consultant. Published reports indicate that Wadsworth had been trying to move out of the Ghost Ship warehouse but that he was unsuccessful. In May 2015, Wadsworth took to Facebook to search for housing accommodations. “I’ve got a place for a few months, but then homeless, I’m looking for a roommate situation mid/end of august. I’m looking at Oakland, and near rideshare and bus,” he wrote.