Gene Lee Chontos (1937–2025) was a dedicated animal and human rights activist whose life journey took him from a challenging childhood in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, through service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Cold War, to radical activism at UC Berkeley in the 1960s. After earning advanced degrees in criminology and psychology, he worked extensively in mental health and drug abuse counseling, pioneering humane rehabilitation methods that incorporated animal-assisted therapy with his dogs. In the 1980s, he and his wife Diana founded Wild Burro Rescue in Washington state to protect wild burros, especially those threatened by federal land management policies that left many burros vulnerable to slaughter. Their work included rescuing burros from Death Valley and negotiating with the National Park Service to prevent mass killings, while living a minimalist, eco-conscious lifestyle on their rural property.

Despite personal and organizational challenges, including a separation from Diana and the eventual collapse of Wild Burro Rescue, Gene remained committed to animal welfare, caring for rescued animals like Missy Cow Cow, a feral cow he helped save. In his later years, he lived modestly near Toledo, Washington, reflecting on his activism and developing a unique meditative practice he called “Sensing.” Though he intended to mentor younger activists, he spent his final years quietly, leaving a legacy of compassionate activism and innovative approaches to both human and animal care.