Andrea Fay: The actress Andrea Fay Friedman, who made history as Amanda Swanson in the popular television series Life Goes On, passed away at her Santa Monica home on December 3. 53 was her age.
Alzheimer’s Complications Lead to Passing
Her father, Hal Friedman, told The New York Times on Thursday that she passed away from Alzheimer’s disease complications, which is a common diagnosis for those with Down syndrome who are over 50. He added that the illness had prevented her from speaking for the previous 12 months.
A Surrogate Parent’s Legacy
Anand Mahindra on this Tweeted, “Harold Friedman was my father’s closest friend in college & the friendship endured over the subsequent decades. He was my guardian during my college days & has been my surrogate parent ever since my father passed away.” He added, “‘Uncle Hal’ & Aunt Marj’s elder daughter, Andrea, came into this world with Down’s syndrome. They made it their mission to gift her a life of normalcy. When she was born, the average life-expectancy of a child with Down’s was a couple of decades. Thanks to medical progress & the lessons learned from enlightened parents like the Friedmans, the life expectancy today is 60 years.
A Farewell to Andrea
Anand Mahindra Added, “Last week, Andrea moved on to a better world. On the very day that Uncle Hal turned 99. I want to pay tribute to Uncle Hal & Aunt Marj; their lives have been heroic and they are an inspiration to all parents who have children with special needs. And to my sister, Andrea, Bon Voyage, as you embark on your next great adventure.”
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