Social Reformer. Known as "Lois W." she is remembered as the co-founder of Al-Anon, along with her husband Bill Wilson (later known as "Bill W."), a nationwide support group for the friends and family of alcoholics. The oldest of six children, her father was a surgeon and she was raised in the Swedenborgian faith (a religious movement founded by Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in the late 18th century), of which her grandfather was a pastor. After graduating from Packer College Institute in Brooklyn, New York she worked for the Young Women's Christian Association and later taught at a school in Short Hills, New Jersey. In January 1918, she married Bill Wilson who was in the U.S. Army and about to be sent to Europe to fight in World War I (WWI). While he was away, she worked as an occupational therapist. After he returned from the war, their marriage began to degrade due to the combination of her series of miscarriages and his alcoholism. Following her husband's rehabilitation, she began working on programs to help families of alcoholics, which led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and later Al-Anon or Al-Anon Family Groups. In 1979, she published her autobiography "Lois Remembers." She died at the age of 97. In 2010, she was portrayed by actress Winona Ryder in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story," based on the 2005 book written by William G. Borchert. Her home in Bedford Hills, New York called "Stepping Stones" is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and in October 2012, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Social Reformer. Known as "Lois W." she is remembered as the co-founder of Al-Anon, along with her husband Bill Wilson (later known as "Bill W."), a nationwide support group for the friends and family of alcoholics. The oldest of six children, her father was a surgeon and she was raised in the Swedenborgian faith (a religious movement founded by Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in the late 18th century), of which her grandfather was a pastor. After graduating from Packer College Institute in Brooklyn, New York she worked for the Young Women's Christian Association and later taught at a school in Short Hills, New Jersey. In January 1918, she married Bill Wilson who was in the U.S. Army and about to be sent to Europe to fight in World War I (WWI). While he was away, she worked as an occupational therapist. After he returned from the war, their marriage began to degrade due to the combination of her series of miscarriages and his alcoholism. Following her husband's rehabilitation, she began working on programs to help families of alcoholics, which led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and later Al-Anon or Al-Anon Family Groups. In 1979, she published her autobiography "Lois Remembers." She died at the age of 97. In 2010, she was portrayed by actress Winona Ryder in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story," based on the 2005 book written by William G. Borchert. Her home in Bedford Hills, New York called "Stepping Stones" is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and in October 2012, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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