Help Create a Lasting Tribute for Ali Atris

On August 30, 2024, the world dimmed as it lost one of its brightest lights. Ali Atris, the love of my life and my greatest joy for four and a half beautiful years, passed away from an undetected heart defect. His sudden loss has shattered me and left an emptiness that I would never be able to truly capture in words.

For 21 agonizing days, I didn’t even know Ali was gone. I wasn’t informed about his funeral or the memorial service held at the gym where he passed. I wasn’t given the chance to grieve in the home we shared, to hold his belongings close, or to say a proper goodbye. It felt as though every piece of Ali’s life in California, including me, had been erased.

There was so much more to Ali than met the eye. The first time we met was at a gas station on Valentine’s Day 2020— from that moment, I knew he was extraordinary. His smile was enough to convince me that I had loved him across multiple lifetimes. The pandemic brought us closer than ever— two people far from home in San Francisco, becoming each other’s best friend, support system, and everything in between. Within a year, we both knew it was the first time either of us had truly been in love.

Big Sur was Ali’s favorite place in California, but we also spent countless weekends in LA, Sacramento, Reno, and Las Vegas. We shared everything from matching outfits to the front seats of roller coasters. Bodybuilding was his greatest passion but aside from looking like a superhero, he was a brilliant, gentle soul who brought warmth and joy to everyone he met. Nothing embodied his tenderness more than our beloved teddy bear, Lotso, who traveled with us across the country and was never far from Ali’s side.

I want to honor Ali in a way that reflects his beauty and kindness. My dream is to place a memorial bench at his gravesite in Canada— a spot where anyone passing by can sit, reflect, and learn about the incredible person Ali was. This will be carried out via a QR code on the bench that links to memories of him: stories, photos, and videos that capture his spirit. This bench would be a declaration of my eternal love for Ali, a place to mourn, and a celebration of a man whose life was a shooting star— brief but unforgettable.

From me and Lotso, we ask for your help. Any contribution, no matter how small, will bring this vision to life and help me navigate the grief of losing the most important person I’ve ever known.

Thank you for helping me honor Ali in the only way I can.