We mourn the death of the great Stephen Mendelsohn

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I have terrible news.

The amazing genius and focused disability activist, Stephen Mendelsohn (63), worked tirelessly to oppose assisted suicide as a member of Second Thoughts Connecticut and as a member of the EPC - USA board has died.

According to a media report Stephen Mendelsohn died when he was hit by a car on Sunday evening (June 1).

Mendelsohn will truly be missed.

Mendelsohn was an incredible researcher. He would read through legislative texts and uncover specific language variations that may not have been noticed immediately. Also, the interventions that he wrote opposing assisted suicide bills often used new talking points and ways to oppose killing by assisted suicide.

Mendelsohn followed assisted suicide leglislation closely and regularly sent updates to leaders to inform us on state bills.

Mendelsohn was an activist who was willing to let it be known why he opposed assisted suicide.

Stephen Mendelsohn cannot be replaced. I hope that another active focussed and caring researcher / thinker will soon come forward.

I cannot express enough the loss EPC and others are experiencing in the death of our friend Stephen Mendelsohn.

Zekher tzadik livrakha

Some articles by Stephen Mendelsohn:

• Connecticut bill to prohibit drugs for capital punishment must also prohibit drugs for assisted suicide (Link).
• Testimony in strong opposition to Minnesota End-of-Life options act (Link).
• Strong opposition to Connecticut assisted suicide bill (Link).
• Connecticut assisted suicide bill is defeated again (Link).
• Disability leader testifies against Connecticut assisted suicide bill (Link).
• Assisted suicide lobby spreads falsehoods to promote systematic ableism (Link).