All of us at Emerge Law Group are deeply saddened to learn about the untimely death of Sheri Eckert, co-sponsor of Oregon’s Psilocybin Services Initiative, which recently was approved by Oregon voters. Sheri, along with her co-sponsor and husband Tom Eckert, worked tirelessly on this pioneering measure, which holds promise to benefit countless Oregonians suffering with mental health challenges.
Hearing the news of her passing was, as Tom notes on the Oregon Psilocybin Society’s Facebook page, “ a terrible and unexpected shock…. almost unbearable to hear.”
Several of us at Emerge came to know Sheri during our work on the campaign: Dave Kopilak was the primary drafter of the Measure; Kathryn Tucker brought the voices of the end of life care community to support the Measure. Kathryn recalls: “Sheri and Tom always opted to discuss the Measure as a team, whether at a public event such as the memorable kick-off gala at the Portland Art Museum, in an interview with media, or an educational webinar for health care providers. Their work was hugely and successfully synergistic.”
As Tom notes, Sheri “changed the course of mental healthcare, by spearheading Oregon’s successful psilocybin therapy campaign.” Tom asks that those who are moved to do so “to please consider donating to the Oregon Psilocybin Society (OPS), the charity that Sheri co-founded, to help carry her legacy onward and begin the work that she made possible: that of bringing psilocybin assisted therapy, and the direct experience of the divine, to those in need of deep healing. You can make a donation to OPS at:
https://www.nfggive.com/donation/83-2468654”
We at Emerge will forever be inspired by our good fortune to work closely with Sheri and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Tom. Inspired by Sheri, we will work tirelessly to be part of the team to carry her legacy forward.
