Melinda French Gates Unveils the Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Story Behind Son Rory’s Name (Exclusive)

Choosing a meaningful name for her son led Melinda French Gates to pay tribute to her departed companion John Neilson.

In The Next Day, her recently published memoir, the 60-year-old humanitarian details her connection with Neilson, whom she encountered at Microsoft early in her tenure. Their bond flourished quickly, often leading to gatherings with their partners — her then-spouse Bill Gates and Neilson’s wife, Emmy Ward Neilson.

“I once shared with John that aside from our families, our friendship with him and Emmy meant everything to us,” Melinda reflected in the book. “As young adults, we formed a profound connection and matured alongside one another.”

Tragedy struck when Neilson received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As the illness progressed swiftly, an expectant Melinda described feeling powerless. She managed visits during his treatment until hospice care began, coinciding with her final weeks of pregnancy.

“The ensuing days felt surreal,” she wrote. “My child’s arrival loomed while my closest friend’s departure neared — a bittersweet blend of hope and sorrow.”

Opting for induced labor, Melinda prioritized a farewell meeting, uncertain of hospital timelines or whether John would survive her recovery period. “I needed closure,” she explained.

With limited energy, their exchange was brief yet emotionally charged. She expressed her love and revealed plans to pass John’s name to her unborn son.

John survived that evening, and Melinda’s final snapshot with him shows the pair seated on his porch post-delivery.

“The image evokes complex feelings,” she noted, “yet joy shines through — he’s cradling my baby Rory Gates. Rory John Gates.”

Addressing the emotional weight of sharing this story, Melinda admits to PEOPLE that discussing John’s passing remains challenging.

“It marked a pivotal chapter,” she states. “Yet I’m satisfied with how authentically I captured it.”

“I wondered, ‘Would John approve of this portrayal?’ Absolutely,” she continues. “His widow reviewed it without requesting edits.”

Preorders for The Next Day are now open.