On October 9th I received this announcement from an organization that I support, Reaching Out from Within.
“ROFW is saddened by the passing of our matriarch, mentor, and pioneer SuEllen Fried. SuEllen’s impact in the lives of those blessed with the opportunity to meet her was immeasurable. She leaves behind a legacy rooted in passion and empathy. May our continued work be a reflection of her belief in the power of kindness and the courage to change. SuEllen Fried, 92, of Prairie Village, Kansas, died on October 3rd while surrounded by her family.”
I considered SuEllen my friend and mentor. Her death was a shock to me. I enjoyed our last meeting at the Reaching Out from Within conference in 2024. SuEllen served the mental health community all her working life.
She was often a beacon in a disruptive support system that tried to help mental health sufferers, their families, and friends. Because of SuEllen’s efforts, our world in assisting people with mental illness is much better off than when she started at Osawatomie State Hospital in the 1950s.
At the 2024 ROFW conference, I had my photo taken with SuEllen and her daughter, Paula Fried. SuEllen is on my right.
For a better understanding of the impact of my friend, you can read her obituary at Legacy.com.
I wrote a tribute to my friend. I’m including it here.
“SuEllen had a much larger impact on my life than she will ever know. Hopefully, she will see from above.
I will never forget her kind, loving heart and desire to change our criminal justice system. As a formerly incarcerated person, I have tried not to miss any ROFW conferences since attending my first one years ago. Every time I met up with her, SuEllen articulated my innermost feelings about not only my desire to change the prison system but also how to do it.
I promise to do my best, SuEllen, to carry your mantle forward in my words and actions in my future criminal justice reform efforts. Thank you for your love and kindness and everything else you left us, SuEllen.
Much Love from me and so many others whose lives you changed.”
Rest in Peace,
Peter Ninemire
P.S. In 2022 I shared my experience at the Reaching Out From Within Conference. You can find my blog post at Reaching Out From Within Conference Recap.