Barry Nielsen, 1957-2005

Barry Nielsen, an artist, former Super, and longtime city resident, was found fatally injured on Bryant Street, near Mariposa, on Friday, October 21 while volunteering as a greeter outside an Open Studios event. Foul play is suspected, according to an article in the Bay Area Reporter and a follow-up in the Chronicle. He died on October 25.

Originally from Racine, Wisconsin, Nielsen moved to San Francisco in 1985. Barry had a lot of supering experience in the late 80s and early 90s, appearing in many operas, including televised productions of L'Africaine with Placido Domingo and Shirley Verrett, Dangerous Liaisons with Flicka and Thomas Hampson, and the 1988 Bohéme with Pavarotti and Mirella Freni. Recently he had been volunteering with the Opera Library.

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