TCF Rogue Valley Chapter ~ About TCF

When a child dies: a brief history of The Compassionate Friends

by Pat Akery, TCF, Medford, OR

The Compassionate Friends was founded in Coventry, England in 1969 by Reverend Simon Stephens, a hospital chaplain. Called upon to comfort two bereaved families in the hospital, he discovered they had far more to say and to share with each other than he could ever say to comfort them. Consequently, Stephens began working with families to set up an organization which could offer understanding, friendship, support and care to bereaved parents. Over the next several years, an organization they named The Society of Compassionate Friends was founded.

In 1972, after an article appeared in Time Magazine (May 1971), several bereaved parents in Florida and Illinois contacted Stephens and discussed with him the possibility of establishing chapters in the United States. After several loosely connected chapters were established, it became apparent that there was an overwhelming need for bereaved parents to share and to learn from each other and that a more formal organization was required.

Another event further emphasized this need. In 1977, Phil Donahue invited a group of bereaved parents from The Compassionate Friends to appear on his program with an author who had recently published a book on parental bereavement. This program brought an amazing response from parents throughout the United States who wanted to know about the organization and how they could participate.

In the United States, The Compassionate Friends was incorporated in 1978 and a national headquarters was established in Illinois. Since then, TCF has grown to an estimated 1,000 local chapters. National organizations have also been established in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.