Dan Frey bio

I grew up in a family that struggled to find harmony. My parents had very different temperaments and often clashed, and as a child I didn’t always understand the pressures they were carrying. When their marriage ended, my sister and I lived with my mother. She was doing everything she could to build a stable life for us—working toward her nursing degree, holding down full‑time jobs, and trying to create her own version of the American dream. With so much on her shoulders, we spent a lot of time on our own as latchkey kids. There were moments when stress overwhelmed her, and she reacted in ways that were painful for us, especially for me.

Eventually, I moved in with my father. He expressed care very differently—quietly, sometimes distantly—and while he wasn’t outwardly affectionate, I know now that he was doing the best he knew how.

Because I couldn’t find the emotional connection I longed for at home, I attached intensely to my high school girlfriend. When that relationship ended, I fell into a deep period of anguish. A few months later, I received a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. It was a frightening time, but it also led me to someone who changed my life: Ken Steele. Ken shared my diagnosis and became a mentor, guide, and source of hope. His sudden passing two years later was devastating, but the community he introduced me to became my chosen family. I wanted to stay connected, to contribute, and to honor what he had given me.

Twenty years—and many cycles of struggle and recovery—later, the COVID pandemic arrived. I felt called to preserve Ken’s work and to use virtual tools to keep people connected during a time of profound isolation. I’m grateful for the chance I had to carry his legacy forward, and I hope others can discover their own strengths, passions, and sense of belonging.

No one deserves to feel forgotten or alone. I believe deeply that every person has the capacity to make a meaningful impact, and through Ken’s influence, I remain committed to helping others find their path toward self‑discovery, growth, and community connection.