A figure in Chicago's gay community whose drag persona was as famous as his own name passed away June 27. Michael "Mangina" Gabaldon died peacefully, according to friends, at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He was 40.
"He was one of a kind," said Michael Baren, a close personal friend of Gabaldon. "There wasn't a person that didn't like him. … He was a very wonderful, happy, positive person."
Gabaldon was born in Phoenix, Ariz., the son of Juanita and Santos Gabaldon and a brother to six siblings: Rachel, Roxanne, Gina, David, Danny and Gabriel.
He spent much of his life in Arizona where he took a job at a Charlie's bar in 1992 and became active in the Arizona Gay and Lesbian Rodeo Association.
It was at Charlie's in Phoenix that Gabaldon developed "Mangina," the not-so-subtly-named drag queen for which Gabaldon became well-known as a performer.
In 1996, Gabaldon moved that persona to the Charlie's Chicago in Lakeview, where he started tending bar. He remained active in rodeo and played volleyball and darts in leagues. Friends credit him with bringing increased visibility to rodeo in LGBT communities, particularly in Chicago.
Gabaldon was a known character in LGBT Chicago. Many reflecting on him paint him as a larger-than-life, well-meaning jokester. According to friends, he gave everyone in his immediate circle nicknames. When customers ordered a drink from him, he would often respond in jest by saying "eventually" and then walking away.
"I will remember his smile and his sharp wit," said Dennis Friedland, a close friend of Gabaldon. "He was sassy and smart. He lived his life to the fullest."
According to Friedland, Gabaldon helped raise thousands of dollars for local AIDS advocacy organizations including Test Positive Aware Network, Howard Brown Health Center, Vital Bridges and the Children's Place Association. Gabaldon repeatedly won Charlie's "Man of the Month" competition and also won the "Man of the Year" award, for raising the most money for local charities.
During his time at Charlie's, Gabaldon met Steven White. The two were together nine years, and White was with Gabaldon when he died in hospice care.
Two years ago, Gabaldon stopped working at Charlie's and got a job at Spin Nightclub. However, he never left the Charlie's family, said Friedland.
Friends remember Gabaldon as a loyal friend who commiserated with them when they were down and had a personal saying for every occasion, including his most famous: "What'd I say?"
Baren said that Gabaldon adored the sitcom The Golden Girls and took one of his favorite phrases from the show. "Thank you for being a friend," Gabaldon often said.
Gabaldon will be remembered at a celebration at Charlie's Chicago, 3726 N. Broadway, on Monday, July 11, at 7:30 p.m.