Eleonore “Elly” Frankl, who died in Vienna on June 10, 2026, at the age of 100, embodied the quiet strength, warmth, and steadfast presence that helped shape one of the most influential psychological movements of the 20th century. Born, Eleonore Katharina Schwindt on November 6, 1925, in the modest Vienna district of Kaisermühlen, she grew up close to ordinary life—an upbringing that nurtured the practical intelligence, humor, and direct humanity for which she would be remembered. During the Second World War, Elly worked as a nurse in the dental department of the Vienna Policlinic. It was there, in 1945, that she met Viktor E. Frankl, newly returned from the concentration camps after losing his first wife, parents, and brother. Their meeting marked a turning point in Viktor’s life. In a 1946 letter to a fellow survivor, he wrote that “one human being has changed everything”—a reference to Elly. They married in 1947, and their daughter Gabriele was born the same year. For the next fifty years, until Viktor’s death in 1997, Elly was his companion, collaborator, and emotional home. She traveled the world with him as he advanced logo-therapy and existential analysis, helping make possible the books, lectures, and international engagements that carried his message of meaning to millions. Her unwavering support was recognized with honorary doctorates from North Park University in Chicago and the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis. After Viktor’s passing, she devoted nearly three decades to preserving and promoting their shared legacy, serving as a trusted guide to scholars and institutions around the world. Elly’s life was defined by presence—by the quiet, steady acts of love and responsibility that Viktor Frankl believed were central to human meaning. She saw people not as titles or achievements but as persons, and her warmth made Frankl’s ideas more accessible, more human. As one admirer wrote, she was “the warmth that accompanies the light.” This spirit of responsibility and human connection also linked Elly to the work of sculptor Gary Lee Price, creator of the Statue of Responsibility—Viktor Frankl’s envisioned West Coast counterpart to the Statue of Liberty. Price, who holds the copyrights and trademarks for the project, has long dedicated himself to realizing Frankl’s call for a monument symbolizing the essential balance between freedom and responsibility. In 2004, Price met with Elly in Viktor’s study, where she embraced not only the sculptor but also the artistic expression of her husband’s enduring message. During that visit, Price showed her a wood carving Viktor had cherished, “The Suffering Man,” deepening the emotional connection between Elly and the artistic legacy that continues to grow from Viktor’s work. As President of the Statue of Responsibility Foundation, I honor Elly Frankl not only as the beloved partner of Viktor Frankl but as a guardian of meaning in her own right. Her life reminds us that responsibility is lived most powerfully through love, presence, and the courage to accompany others. Her memory will continue to inspire our mission as we work to bring Viktor Frankl’s vision—now also hers—to life. Stephen J. Cohen President and CEO Statue of Responsibility Foundation
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding in 2026, a momentous occasion known as the semiquincentennial, I am thrilled to share an exciting development that echoes the profound symbolism of Gary Lee Price's Statue of Responsibility.
Our Progress in 2025- A letter to all our supporters from the President
On June 6, 2025 , Alliant International University in San Diego proudly unveiled a 15-foot bronze Statue of Responsibility in honor of Dr. Viktor Frankl —renowned Holocaust survivor, psychiatrist, and author of the bestselling book Man’s Search for Meaning.
A Celebration of Viktor Frankl's Legacy and the Power of Responsibility
Strengthening Relationships and Building a Better Society
Learn more about the artist and designer behind the Statue of Responsibility
Celebrating Stephen Cohen: A Pillar of Journalism
Read and learn more about the latest news coverage surrounding the Statue of Responsibility
Gary has dedicated many years to the Statue of Responsibility. View this post to see the different versions of the SoR throughout the years.