SuEllen Fried, 92, of Prairie Village, Kansas, died on Oct. 3, surrounded by her family.
SuEllen was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1932 to Sidney and Adeline Sapin Weissman and led an extraordinary life of service, love and dance. She served as class president of University City High School and danced in the St. Louis Muny Opera from 1949 to 1951.
SuEllen married Harvey Fried, the love of her life, in 1952, and had three children: Jeffrey (Sherry), Paula (Brad) and Marc (Camille). SuEllen adored her seven grandchildren, known as “miracles:” Elise (Aaron), Samantha (Matt), Allison (Zach), Joe (Jane), Sam (Kat), Jim (Marissa) and Anne. SuEllen is survived by her children and grandchildren, as well as her brother Gary, her nieces and nephews, cousins and many close friends.
SuEllen attended Washington University and graduated from Park University with an M.A. in dance therapy and creative arts. Her pioneering work using dance as an expressive form at Osawatomie State Hospital for 17 years led her to become a charter member of the American Dance Therapy Association. After obtaining her degree, SuEllen became the 100th registered dance therapist in the U.S.
SuEllen served on the Governor’s Commission on Education for Parenthood and was involved with mental health associations at local, state and national levels. In 1969, SuEllen was invited to join President Richard Nixon’s task force on mental health. SuEllen continued her passion to change the world for the better when she started the first state chapter and served on the board of what is now called Prevent Child Abuse America. Additionally, SuEllen spoke to over 90,000 students, educators, administrators, parents, and professionals at elementary, middle and high schools across 37 states to prevent bullying. She authored or co-authored seven books about bullying.
SuEllen founded the Metropolitan Kansas City STOP Violence Coalition, and this eventually ignited her passion for prison reform. In 1982, SuEllen co-founded Reaching Out From Within (ROFW), an incarcerated-led program empowering residents to transform themselves and heal each other that operates in Kansas, Missouri and North Carolina. SuEllen served as President Emeritus and lifetime board member of ROFW. SuEllen also was a commissioner for LINC, the Local Investment Commission. SuEllen spoke to many audiences over the years about bullying, incarceration and kindness, including a TEDxTalk in 2018, “Lessons from Behind Barbed Wire.” SuEllen’s belief in dance as a transformative experience lives on in Ailey Camp, a program she co-founded that helps urban youth build self-esteem and creativity through dance.
SuEllen’s hard work led to numerous recognition and awards, including the American Red Cross Humanitarian Award (1982), the Brotherhood Sisterhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews (1984), National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse Mary Ellen Award (1984), the Department of Health & Human Services Commissioners Award (1985), named the 900th Point of Light by President George H.W. Bush (1991), Johnson Countian of the Year (1993), KC Friends of Alvin Ailey Service Award (1994), the UMKC Alumni Distinguished Service to Education Award (1997), Karl Menninger Award (1998), the Edward A. Smith Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership (1998), Prevent Child Abuse America Donna Stone Award (2002), Sigma Delta Tau Alumna of the Year Award (2004), William Jewell College Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service (2004), University City High School Hall of Fame (2005), ROFW Award of Appreciation (2009), the Strength Through Unity Award (2010), Diplomatic Courier’s 100 Top Women of the Global World (2012), KC Chamber ATHENA Award (2013), Park University Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award (2014), L’Oreal Paris USA Women of Worth (2015), Consensus Civility Award-Lifetime Achievement (2015), Starr Women’s Hall of Fame (2017), Kansas City Junior League Branton/Hall Community Collaborator Award (2020), Prevent Child Abuse America Power of Kindness Award (2022), American Public Square at Jewell Founder’s Civility Award (2023), and the SevenDays Ripple of Kindness Award (2024). A mural of SuEllen was painted in the Kansas City Museum, recognizing her devotion to Kansas City.
SuEllen was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey; her parents, Adeline and Sid Weissman; her brother Ronny Weissman; and Prince Fried, “The world’s greatest dog, of his or any time,” according to her brother-in-law, Roy Roberts. SuEllen’s family remembers her as a strong, caring woman who was passionate about bringing people together, as a founder of the Watering Hole, by giving heart-to-heart hugs and by making connections with new people wherever she happened to be. SuEllen loved to spread her commitment to doing good in the world by wearing a “Power of Kindness” pin; she pinned the button on anyone she observed doing a kind deed, then asked them to pay it forward by recognizing anyone they observed being kind to someone else. It was a daily practice consistent with her belief that we can all make the world a better place, one person at a time.
There was a private funeral service for the immediate family. In addition, there will be a celebration of life on Nov. 9. The family will provide more details about the location at a later time.Thank you to everyone who cared and showed love for SuEllen in her final months, including Terry and countless friends and family.
SuEllen asked that contributions in her memory be made to any of the following organizations: Reaching Out From Within (630 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101, rofw.org/donate); Prevent Child Abuse America (Attn: Development, 33 N. Dearborn St. Ste 2300, Chicago, IL 60602, preventchildabuse.org/donate); and Uncornered Inc., 218 Adams St., PO Box 220605, Dorchester, MA 02122, uncornered.org/donate).
