Susan Huford American psychologist and author; widow of Michael Zeslow Date of Birth: 15.12.1938 Country: USA

1. Biography of Susan Hafford
2. Marriage and Family
3. Advocacy and Fundraising
4. Writing and Therapy
5. Acting Career and Tragedy
6. Literary Legacy
7. Legacy and Passing

Biography of Susan Hafford

Susan Hafford was an American psychologist and author, best known as the widow of the world-renowned television and film star, Michael Zeslow. She was born on December 5, 1938, in Lebanon, Ohio, USA.

Marriage and Family

Hafford married actor Michael Zeslow on June 7, 1975, after they met during their joint performance in the Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof" in the early 1970s. The couple was married for 23 years and had two adopted children, Marika and Helena.

Advocacy and Fundraising

Hafford was an active member of the National Board of Trustees for the ALS Association and served on the Board of Directors for the Greater New York Chapter. She advocated for raising awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and became the face of fundraising efforts for research on this neurodegenerative disease. Hafford successfully raised approximately 1 million dollars towards finding a cure for ALS.

Writing and Therapy

Susan Hafford authored more than 20 books and worked as a practicing psychotherapist in a private clinic in Manhattan, New York. Her notable works include "Going All the Way" (1980), "The Devil's Sonata" (1976), "Miracles" (1989), and "Satan's Sunset" (1977).

Acting Career and Tragedy

Before marrying Michael Zeslow, Hafford pursued a career as an actress in local theaters, complementing her successful Broadway career. In 1997, her husband began experiencing speech difficulties, leading to him being placed on leave once these issues became noticeable on-screen. It took some time before Michael received a definitive diagnosis of ALS. He passed away on December 6, 1998.

Tragedy struck again on December 28, 2004, when their 19-year-old daughter, Helena Hafford-Zeslow, passed away shortly after completing her first semester at Wellesley College.

Literary Legacy

In 2005, Susan Hafford released a poignant memoir titled "Not That Man Anymore: (A Message From Michael)", which chronicled her late husband's battle with ALS. Michael had started writing this book himself before his death.

Legacy and Passing

Susan Hafford continued to fight against cancer until her death on November 28, 2006. Despite her own health struggles, Hafford left behind a lasting legacy of advocacy and literature.