Staff
Erin Stone, Executive Director
Kristine Cozine, Finance Director
May Ballew, Admin Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator
Susan J. Reynolds, Director of Programs & Operations
Kahala Lincoln, Admin Support
Janice O'Donnell, Admin Support
Nalani Ballew, Office Dog
2024 Board of Directors
Mary Rossell, President
Ian Howard, Vice-President
Steve Trask
Lisa West, Chaplain, California Chaplain Corps
Jonathan Meltzer
Oana York
Get Involved
Interested in becoming a Board Member?
Our Board governs the overall execution of the organization’s mission. Principally, the Board manages organizational finances and sets long term priorities for programs. The Board also oversees the Executive Director, who is responsible for day-to-day management of the organization. Overall, the members of the Board contribute the educational, management, legal, and financial skills needed to ensure long term organizational stability and ensure year-to-year bereavement support activities to help family and friends after a suicide loss.
Friends of FRIENDS FOR SURVIVAL
Co-Founder, Marilyn Koenig
November 7, 2023
Dear Friends & Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce my retirement from Friends for Survival. The last 40+ years have been a blessing to me, and changed the direction of my life beyond anything I could have ever imagined. When my son, Steve, died by suicide I thought it was a tragedy with no good to ever come of it. But - God had other plans.
Now, I look back in amazement and gratitude: amazement of the growth of Friends for Survival, and gratitude for the thousands of grieving persons who have contacted us for encouragement and received hope for the future. Each and every one of you have enriched my life and, in spite of your own pain, you have also given me hope for my future and that of other loved ones.
My plans for the future include living part-time in Florida with a deeply caring man from our survivor family. I will often be visiting my family here in California. I have 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren…I am blessed indeed! Our families are happy to know that even in one’s later years, there can be new adventures, laughter and appreciation for every day we have ahead of us.
I am confident that Friends for Survival, with its dedicated and talented staff and volunteers, will continue to provide comfort, encouragement, hope and education for decades to come. My heart will always be with all of you.
Gratefully, Marilyn Koenig