Activist Ohad "Ady" Barkan rose to become a veritable left-wing superstar due to his agitation on behalf of Medicare for all.

However, Barkan's career came to an end this week when the 39-year-old succumbed to complications from ALS.  

Activist's death announced by the organization he helped found

Barkan's passing was announced via social media on Thursday by Be a Hero, the organization he co-founded less than a decade ago.

It’s with deep sadness that we announce the death of our co-founder and co-executive director, @AdyBarkan, at age 39 due to ALS-related complications.

Ady will continue to be at the heart of Be A Hero and what we do here for years to come. pic.twitter.com/Cd6sfxVW5l

— Be a Hero (@BeaHero) November 2, 2023

According to National Public Radio (NPR), Barkan was born in Boston and raised in California by Israeli immigrant parents.

He decided to become an attorney after reading To Kill A Mockingbird and went on to graduate from Yale Law School.

Barkan said activism allowed him "to transcend" his illness

Barkan then opted to pursue full-time left-wing activism for a variety of causes after becoming involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement.

NPR recalled how Barkan's ALS diagnosis came seven years ago "after a bout of stiffness in his left hand," something which prompted him to focus on healthcare-related issues.

"Being part of the movement has given me purpose, a community, and the chance to nudge our society in the right direction," NPR quoted him as saying.

"It's allowed me to transcend my dying body and find personal liberation. And I honestly don't think those things are just for me," he added.

Vice president calls Barkan "a tireless advocate and activist"

News that Barkan had died was quickly met with tributes online, including from Vice President Kamala Harris, who called him "a tireless advocate and activist."

"Ady's life, work, and hard-won progress will continue to inspire us to fight for every person's right to access the health care they need," she continued.

When I met with Ady Barkan in 2019, we spoke about the idea of one's legacy. Since hearing the news of his passing, I have been reflecting on Ady's legacy.

He was a tireless advocate and activist. A brilliant leader and organizer. A devoted father and husband. He was a hero.…

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 2, 2023

The vice president concluded by saying that she and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff "send our love and prayers to his wife, Rachael, and their two children."