Partners In Health mourns the passing of John Tracy Kidder
Partners In Health (PIH) mourns the passing of John Tracy Kidder, esteemed author and longtime friend.
The Pulitzer Prize-winner died surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, March 24 at the age of 80 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Kidder’s 2003 book Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World introduced millions of readers to global health justice, catalyzing the movement into the 21st century.
A member of the PIH Board of Trustees since 2012, Kidder has accompanied the organization through extraordinary growth and hardship as a stalwart advocate for the rights of the poor. Today, PIH has grown to support programs across four continents and provide direct care to millions of patients.
PIH CEO Sheila Davis said, “I think it’s fair to say PIH wouldn’t be where we are today without Tracy Kidder. His telling of PIH’s history and Paul’s teachings in Mountains Beyond Mountains ushered in a new era of awareness and growth for the organization. Thanks to Tracy’s profound gift of storytelling, millions of people understand what it means to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care and the difference between solidarity and charity because they read this book. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that he remained an active member of the PIH community until the day he passed.”
PIH Co-founder Ophelia Dahl said, “Tracy was that rarest of beings—an artist and a man charged up about injustice. I really do believe many of his writings reach the level of literary mastery. Take House. Low stakes, beautiful. And after publishing Mountains Beyond Mountains, he was always driven to do more, to use his art, his gift to change inequities. Throughout most of this century, he spoke out on behalf of Partners In Health’s patients, wrote book forewords and opinion pieces, submitted to interviews, served on PIH’s board, and encouraged young people with grit and curiosity and high ideals. I miss him so much already.”
PIH extends its deepest condolences to Kidder’s family, friends, and all who were moved by his extraordinary life and work.
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