It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved friend, Bill Fabrey. Bill died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of January 10.

As the small group of friends who were closest to Bill as he neared the end of his life, we have created this fundraiser in order to honor Bill’s legacy and to support his adopted daughter during this difficult time.

During his long life, Bill was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend to many. He was a successful engineer, but he was best known as the founder of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). A lifelong advocate for fat people, he also co-founded the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination and served on the board of the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). He was also the owner and operator of Amplestuff.

As many of you know, Bill’s physical and financial health were greatly challenged in his later years. Outside of his size acceptance legacy, one of Bill’s most enduring concerns during the final chapter of his life was what would happen after his death to his daughter and caretaker, Chrysta after his death. Though not his daughter by blood, their relationship of nearly 30 years was that of father and daughter. Chrysta is autistic and chronically ill, adding to Bill’s worry about her navigating moving and other major changes while grieving.

Bill’s closest loved ones are planning an intimate spring memorial near his home in New York. All resources raised through this page that are not needed for end-of-life and memorial costs will be used to support Chrysta’s transition from their family home into more stable and affordable housing.

For those unable to attend the in-person memorial, we want you to know that NAAFA will also host a virtual memorial later this year. Until then, friends are welcome to send messages of support and share loving memories via this page, on Bill’s Facebook or LinkedIn pages where many of you kept in touch with him, and through the form NAAFA has set up at this link .

Thank you to all of you who supported Bill throughout his life and especially in his elder years. As his kindness meant so much to so many of you, yours also meant so much to him.