President & Founder Faye Girsh, EdD
Known as a “star of the right-to-die movement,” Faye has been leading HSSD for over 39 years. She practiced as a clinical and forensic psychologist in San Diego for 18 years, and founded the precursor of the Final Exit Network, Caring Friends.
Secretary Christie Golemb
In 2021, Christie took her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, to Switzerland for Voluntary Assisted Death. She feels strongly that no one should have to leave California to achieve a peaceful death. Christie is a well-respected REALTOR® in San Diego and for fun she plays on various tennis teams and indulges in her passion for fresh powder by going heli-skiing. Travel is in her blood and she loves exploring new places.
Treasurer John McNew
John spent over 30 years in the tech industry as a software developer and manager before shifting focus to teaching yoga and meditation. With a deep commitment to mindfulness and well-being, John brings a compassionate approach to guiding others through stress management and self-care. As an advocate for personal autonomy in end-of-life decisions, he supports informed choices that honor individual dignity and self-determination. Through his work with the Hemlock Society of San Diego, John strives to promote open, meaningful conversations about personal agency and end-of-life options.
Curtis Krock, MD
Curtis Krock, M.D. is an 89-year-old retired internal medicine physician who practiced at the Carle Clinic in Urbana, Illinois from 1972 to 2001, serving as chief of medicine for the Hospital and interim Chief of Medicine for the University of Illinois COM at Urbana-Champaign (2003 to 2005). The difficult deaths of his first wife from multiple sclerosis and of his second wife from esophageal cancer incited his interest in the issue of better ways to die.
Pat Fisher
Pat has been involved with the Hemlock Society since 2013 and has been a supporter of a right-to-die since 1975. She was appalled by the legal battle that ensued when Karen Ann Quinlan’s parents wanted to disconnect her ventilator and leave Karen in a natural state to die a natural death. The state fought Karen’s parents’ wishes, causing them additional grief.
Pat has been a tireless, dedicated volunteer with Hemlock for many years. She is our go-to website expert who devotes countless hours to the complex work of designing, maintaining, and updating our web content. Pat got involved in the web development business early on – when there were no books to learn how to make web pages and when the internet was FUN! She retired from UCSD as MacIntosh support person in 2001.