What civilization is this where we toss memorial blogs like rose pedals into an internet grave?

Throughout her life working with Berkeley’s KPFA Free Speech radio show, Gina’s entire ecosystem was comprised of FM broadcasts and soul on wax.  A true analog girl in a digital world.

I never really knew how to read Gina, except for understanding that she was who the girl of my dreams could grow up to be.  Raised as an activist in the Bay Area throughout the height of the civil rights movement, Gina eventually founded Apex Express, the KPFA Asian American interest show that I hosted with her and Phatrick up until my move last month.  She shared with her husband a vast collection of rare jazz and soul records, complemented by the boundless array of knowledge she had of ancient soul trivia.  That, with a hi-end low-tech analog recording lab equipped with dozens of antique microphones made them pretty much the dopest old Asian couple ever.

While searching for a photo of Gina, I searched for emails received from her and came up with the search results reading “…of hundreds.” Most of them were from a collection of email blasts systematically and by the clock.  Each email was clearly thought out in a way to produce a riveting feel to make the 70-year-old hippies jump out their seats.

“Radio Apex: Secret translators, bombs Swat Pakistan, bonds and backlash?”

Dun dun DUNNN…….

There’s not much I can say in human words to describe the explosions that occurred in my head and heart when I received a text message today about her passing.  We didn’t know each other well, but recognized ourselves in each other often.  She periodically suggested that I pursue radio like as if it was a new promising industry, and I did my best to convince her that songs without real basslines could be good music. Phatrick spoke of her like demigod…a goddess of funk and soul, and every time we left the station he would candidly emphasize how she had been for several decades, quite literally, the voice of Asian American Bay Area.

Besides a deep regret that I never followed up on a farewell dinner invite that she offered before I moved, I can say that today is a happy day because despite the tragic news, it brings to mind a beautiful life.  She grew old with the love of her life, remained happy and surrounded by people and music even into her golden years, and created in our world things that none other could have.  In my life, I can honestly attest that she is the coolest Asian woman I’ve ever met.

Here was my July show with Gina, where she uncovered a rare KPFA interview with the Jacksons:

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Bless your soul, Gina.

Love, Adriel