Photos by Monica Caison
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Susan Murphy Milano, National Advocate, Dies of Cancer
Nationally recognized for her work with victims of abuse
Myrtle Beach, SC………On Sunday morning, October 28, 2012, Susan Murphy Milano, one of the nation’s leading pioneer advocates for victims of intimate partner violence, lost her battle with the ultimate abuser, cancer, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Susan left this earth from the home of her close friend, caretaker, and business partner of several years. She was 52.
Throughout her 20 year career Murphy Milano was well known as an outspoken, fiery activist who took on the role of protector of the abused, often using distinctive methods for insuring safety from their abusers.
Susan Murphy Milano began her one woman crusade in 1989 after the death of her beloved mother at the hands of her police detective father. Growing up in a household which held many secrets, she vowed that the world would look differently at battered women and provide necessary resources which weren’t available to help her mother.
Murphy Milano’s books, “Defending Our Lives”, “Moving Out, Moving On” and Time’s Up, are considered the “bibles” of how to make the move away from abuse and deal with the many confusing situations surrounding violence prevention, stalking, break-up or divorce.
Her latest book, based on the experiences of her life, “Holding My Hand Through Hell,” was released on October 4, 2012.
Susan received many awards and accolades through the years for her work with victims of abuse, and her quest for justice was instrumental in the passage of the Illinois Stalking Law and the Lauternberg Act. She has been prominently featured in newspapers, magazines, radio and television including: The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Radio, ABC’S 20/20, Justice Files, E-True Hollywood, CNN, Sunday Today Show Profile, Women’s Day, Family Circle, US News and World Report to name only a few. She frequently participated in guest media commentary panels on major news programs and appeared in the 2010 A&E Biography of Drew Peterson.
In recent years Susan was involved in several radio shows, co-hosting Crime Wire, a regular guest spot on syndicated The Roth Show, and her own radio show, Time’s Up, which featured unsolved cases to which she was bringing attention, missing persons with Monica Caison of CUE Center for Missing Persons, and true crime author interviews.
Beginning in 2007 she covered the disappearance of Stacy Peterson extensively on her blog, Murphy Milano’s Journal, often making bold statements which later proved to become eerily true. On a visit with Stacy’s Pastor, Neil Schori, she became inspired to develop theEvidentiary Abuse Affidavit which, when properly used, helps successfully prosecute cases where the victim becomes incapacitated, missing or murdered, allowing it to be entered into evidence and being the victim’s testimony against the perpetrator, thus circumventing most hearsay laws.
Susan Murphy Milano’s legacy will continue through the efforts of her many colleagues who will attempt to fill her shoes providing expert training and presentations based on her work and the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit. Through her affiliation with Sandra L. Brown of The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction, and Pastor Neil Schori, the site Document The Abuse was created to house information about the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit and future development of Susan’s ideals.
Susan was preceded in death by her mother, Roberta Murphy, and her father, Philip Murphy, of Chicago. She is survived by a brother, a sister and her son, along with hundreds of colleagues and thousands of friends, survivors and followers across the country.
A memorial service to honor her life is being planned at Naperville Christian Church with Pastor Neil Schori officiating in Naperville, Illinois, and the scattering of her ashes in South Carolina at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Susan requested that donations be made towards establishing a trust to help victims in crisis. Donations can be made through her site http://www.conqueringcancer.me
It's hard to imagine Susan not there to call and ask questions or to assist in the saving of a soul. Her tools are priceless and there is an army of victims who have survived to finally thrive just waiting to share what Susan did FoRe! them. Rest peacefully beautiful and we all know you watch from above. ;) It's the motivation we need to make sure you don't come and kick our butts. ;) Dream Sweet and know we all smile knowing you are dancing with your Mother again. ~MD
ReplyDeleteWhen telling Susan on the phone that I could not believe she called just to check on me, her tone and words will forever be in my heart. "Billie, you are my friend! Now you call me if you need me." Forceful, yet in her own caring way, making me feel so special!
ReplyDeleteThat, was Susan Murphy-Milano! Our Susan..Who won't be hard to find in heaven, her crown will have so many stars it will be blinding! Until we meet in heaven ...My friend.
Words still escape me and are replaced by a wash of tumbling emotions. Everything that I can think of to say sounds inconsequential when compared to the hole that now exists in the world. May the light of Susan's candle always shine, my her love be found in the rays of sunlight that break through the skies and may her memory ever move us forward in the fight for victims. Susan, we will love you.
ReplyDeleteI can to this day remember the brilliance of her intellect
ReplyDeletecoming forth on the show with poignant questions awakening conjecture about the Eddie flynn case on that night of my presentation of it . One particular suggestion lives with me to this day;
not only for it's originality but because my inability to bring
it forth to Eddie's case. Creating a website for the case. My
sincere condolences to the family though belated and added apology on that from me
Sincerely
John Flynn