Trish Vradenburg
Encyclopedia
Trish Vradenburg is an American playwright, author, television writer, and Alzheimer’s Disease advocate.
, the daughter of Beatrice and Judge Joseph Lerner. She graduated from Boston University
in 1968, and became a speech writer for Senator Harrison A. Williams
(D-NJ).
She was a writer on three television shows. In addition, she wrote the novel “Liberated Lady” (1986) as well as the plays “The Apple Doesn’t Fall…” and “Surviving Grace.”
Both of those plays are accounts of Vradenburg’s time as an Alzheimer’s caregiver for her mother, who died of the disease in 1991. Vradenburg is married to former AOL
executive and philanthropist George Vradenburg. In 2008, Vradenburg and her husband founded US Against Alzheimer’s, a national advocacy network dedicated to stopping Alzheimer's. She also sits on the board of Theater J
and DC Vote
published Vradenburg's novel, Liberated Lady, which was described as a “comedic romance with a dash of politics.” The book was chosen as Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club
selections. Further, Vradenburg was published in the anthology Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul in 2000.
. In addition, she also wrote for the shows Kate and Allie and Family Ties
. Her shows dealt with topics including abortion, homosexuality, race relations and high school reunions. Vradenburg also wrote a pilot about life at a home shopping network, The Shopping Maul, for Merv Griffin
Productions. Additionally she was the on-air host of Book This Show with Trish, a book show for Q2.
in Los Angeles
and on Broadway
at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City
, and Surviving Grace which was produced at the Kennedy Center in Washington and off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre
in New York
. Surviving Grace was translated into Portuguese
and produced in Brazil
.
, a bi-monthly English-language magazine. Tikkun analyzes American and Israeli culture, politics, religion and history from a leftist-progressive viewpoint, and provides commentary about Israeli politics and Jewish life in North America. Vradenburg has also had opinion pieces published in several newspapers, including The Washington Post
.
In 2006 the Vradenburgs launched USAgainstAlzheimer’s (USA2), an independent organization whose mission is to stop Alzheimer’s Disease by the year 2020. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Nobel Laureate Stanley Prusiner and Senators Susan Collins
(R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joined the Vradenburgs for the launch of USAgainstAlzheimers. USA2 fielded teams during the 2010 elections in key states to make Alzheimer’s a political issue. The organization generated support from over 50 senators and over 100 members of congress to pass the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act and the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA). NAPA, which charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to map out a national strategic plan to address Alzheimer’s, was passed by Congress and, in January 2011, was signed into law by President Barack Obama
.
Biography
Vradenburg was born in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, the daughter of Beatrice and Judge Joseph Lerner. She graduated from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1968, and became a speech writer for Senator Harrison A. Williams
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
(D-NJ).
She was a writer on three television shows. In addition, she wrote the novel “Liberated Lady” (1986) as well as the plays “The Apple Doesn’t Fall…” and “Surviving Grace.”
Both of those plays are accounts of Vradenburg’s time as an Alzheimer’s caregiver for her mother, who died of the disease in 1991. Vradenburg is married to former AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
executive and philanthropist George Vradenburg. In 2008, Vradenburg and her husband founded US Against Alzheimer’s, a national advocacy network dedicated to stopping Alzheimer's. She also sits on the board of Theater J
Theater J
Theater J is a professional theater company located in Washington, DC, founded to present works that "celebrate the distinctive urban voice and social vision that are part of the Jewish cultural legacy" as a self-mission.-Organization:...
and DC Vote
Books
In 1986 Macmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
published Vradenburg's novel, Liberated Lady, which was described as a “comedic romance with a dash of politics.” The book was chosen as Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club
Book of the Month Club
The Book of the Month Club is a United States mail-order book sales club that offers a new book each month to customers.The Book of the Month Club is part of a larger company that runs many book clubs in the United States and Canada. It was formerly the flagship club of Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc...
selections. Further, Vradenburg was published in the anthology Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul in 2000.
Television
In 1986, Vradenburg became a writer for the show Designing WomenDesigning Women
Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...
. In addition, she also wrote for the shows Kate and Allie and Family Ties
Family Ties
Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young...
. Her shows dealt with topics including abortion, homosexuality, race relations and high school reunions. Vradenburg also wrote a pilot about life at a home shopping network, The Shopping Maul, for Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
Productions. Additionally she was the on-air host of Book This Show with Trish, a book show for Q2.
Plays
Vradenburg wrote the play The Apple Doesn’t Fall... which was produced at the Tiffany TheaterTiffany Theater
The Tiffany Theater was the first theater located on the world famous Sunset Strip. Located just west of La Cienega, it stood between the Playboy Club and Dino’s restaurant. Before being converted from an office building at 8532 W...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Surviving Grace which was produced at the Kennedy Center in Washington and off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre
Union Square Theatre
Union Square Theater is an Off-Broadway theatre, owned by Reading International, who also owns Reading Entertainment.- Productions :*Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron*The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Surviving Grace was translated into Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and produced in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Print media
Since 2000, Trish and George Vradenburg have served as co-publishers of TikkunTikkun (magazine)
Tikkun is a quarterly English-language magazine, published in the United States, that analyzes American and Israeli culture, politics, religion and history from a leftist-progressive viewpoint, and provides commentary about Israeli politics and Jewish life in North America...
, a bi-monthly English-language magazine. Tikkun analyzes American and Israeli culture, politics, religion and history from a leftist-progressive viewpoint, and provides commentary about Israeli politics and Jewish life in North America. Vradenburg has also had opinion pieces published in several newspapers, including The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
.
Alzheimer's advocacy
For the past ten years Vradenburg has worked to stop Alzheimer’s Disease. Since 2003 she and her husband, George, have chaired the National Alzheimer’s Gala in Washington, D.C. which has raised over $9 million for the Alzheimer’s Association.In 2006 the Vradenburgs launched USAgainstAlzheimer’s (USA2), an independent organization whose mission is to stop Alzheimer’s Disease by the year 2020. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Nobel Laureate Stanley Prusiner and Senators Susan Collins
Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins is the junior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1996, she is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs...
(R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joined the Vradenburgs for the launch of USAgainstAlzheimers. USA2 fielded teams during the 2010 elections in key states to make Alzheimer’s a political issue. The organization generated support from over 50 senators and over 100 members of congress to pass the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act and the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA). NAPA, which charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to map out a national strategic plan to address Alzheimer’s, was passed by Congress and, in January 2011, was signed into law by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.