We’re excited to announce Rick Mogil as the Guest of Honor at this year’s Alive Together: Uniting to Prevent Suicide—Our annual 5K walk/run.
After losing his younger brother, Ed, to suicide in 2003, Rick came to understand firsthand the kind of support people need in the aftermath of a loss. As Didi Hirsch’s Bereavement Services Coordinator, his personal experience shaped the way he showed up for others through countless support groups, debriefings, and one-on-one conversations.
For nearly 20 years, Rick helped to shape what Survivors After Suicide (SAS) has become for so many. He was often the first person people spoke with when they reached out for support. He created a sacred space where people could cry, share stories, and begin to heal as they navigated unimaginable loss. In that space, members found not only a way forward, but a community that would continue to carry them long after their first conversation with him.
Rick has a rare ability to meet people in their grief in a way that helped them to feel seen and deeply understood—really allowing them to heal in their own timeline, but never alone.
After retiring from Didi Hirsch in December 2025, he left behind an extraordinary legacy. Although his work with SAS came to an end, the foundation and relationships he helped to build continue on today.
Alive Together reflects so much of what Rick has helped to make possible. It’s a place to remember our loved ones, speak openly about suicide loss, take part in healing out loud. Most of all, it’s a chance to celebrate Rick and all the reasons to keep moving forward, in community.
We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, September 27th at UCLA. Learn more about Alive Together.
