It is with great sadness and enduring respect that we share the founder of the Crime Victims Treatment Center, Susan Xenarios, passed away on September 6th. No one has had more of an impact on the lives of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors in New York City than Susan. She was a force, a visionary, an advocate and a determined leader who planted a seed in 1977 that has grown into a thriving forest of support and connection over the past 48 years.

When Susan and her collaborators founded what would become the Crime Victims Treatment Center in 1977, they laid the groundwork for rape crisis centers and survivor support throughout the state and country. Under her careful watch, CVTC pioneered the placement of volunteer advocates in Emergency Departments and broke through barriers to establish standardized practices for serving survivors in hospitals and beyond. Though each decade brought expansion like serving male identifying survivors, adding complementary therapies like acupuncture to CVTC’s services, training Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners and providing treatment to incarcerated survivors in facilities across New York State, Susan ensured that CVTC remained true to its roots: to always operate at the intersection of two very simple ideas - no one deserves to be hurt, and everyone has the capacity to heal.

Beyond establishing direct service protocols, Susan was a trailblazing legislative advocate, working throughout the state and nation to pass major laws including the Violence Against Women Act (1994), Sexual Assault Reform Act (2001), and “Enough is Enough” (2015). She fought tirelessly for improved victim confidentiality, expanded protections and better funding for forensic exams. She co-founded and led the Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims, bringing together over 100 organizations and launching efforts like the Racial Justice Committee and the annual Crime Victims Vigil, now in its 40th year. Susan also advised city agencies like the NYPD and Manhattan DA’s Office, advocating for improved law enforcement response to sexual violence. Even after she handed the baton of leadership of CVTC off in 2017, she continued to serve on numerous civic boards and commissions, leaving an indelible legacy of compassion, advocacy, and systemic reform for survivors of violence.

The ripple effects of Susan's service will be felt for decades to come, and the current staff and volunteers of CVTC are privileged and humbled to carry her legacy forward. She will be dearly, dearly missed. 
 

Susan's Memorial Service will be on:

Saturday, September 20th, 11am
West End Collegiate Church
245 West 77th Street
New York, NY 10024
 
All are welcome.