San Francisco said goodbye to Claude, the city's beloved albino alligator, in a special memorial event on Sunday. Hundreds of people gathered in Golden Gate Park to celebrate Claude's 30 years of life and legacy. A New Orleans-style brass band played, and there was even a giant gator-shaped sourdough bread. Drag queens read stories to fans, and the city honored Claude with a street named "Claude the Alligator Way." Claude was famous for his rare albinism and his calm nature. He lived at the California Academy of Sciences for 17 years. Bart Shepherd from the academy shared a funny memory: Claude once stole a 12-year-old girl's ballet shoe. It took vets and special tools to get the shoe back, even while a fire alarm was ringing. "It's no small feat to get a shoe out of an alligator," Shepherd said. Jeanette Peach from the academy explained why Claude was so loved. His unique look made many people feel seen and embraced. "Claude embodied something that we think of as a really San Francisco ideal, which is not just accepting but welcoming people for their differences," she said. Claude attracted over 22 million visitors during his life and helped people connect with nature and science. He was born in 1995 on an alligator farm in Louisiana and came to the academy in 2008. Claude died in December from liver cancer. Since his passing, the academy has received thousands of letters from fans. "Thank you for inspiring so many young children over the years," one visitor wrote. Lana Krol, a senior vet at the academy, called Claude "the most laidback" alligator she has ever worked with. "I can say with confidence that I won't meet another gator like Claude in my lifetime. I'll miss him terribly," she said.