A Voice in the Night -- And All That Followed
By working to bridge social divides and bring people together, Riki Wagman was a pivotal figure not only in the expansion of our mission, but in the work of ending homelessness in Philadelphia.
Riki and Howard Wagman were taking a casual stroll in Center City, returning from a concert to their toney condominium on Rittenhouse Square, just as they had done innumerable times before. But on this night, they were interrupted by a voice that at first seem to come out of nowhere: “Riki!”
It took a moment to find the origins of the voice, and then to even focus on the shadowy figure sitting on the edge of the sidewalk. The woman repeated Riki’s name, even ran up to hug her. Gradually, as they began to interact, Riki realized that this skinny, ragged woman was an old friend. Claudia was a beautiful, gifted, expressive, and ambitious woman when Riki knew her. She had once helped run a business in Germany and was even preparing to go to law school. But mental illness, no respecter of status, had wreaked havoc on Claudia’s life.
The Wagmans saw Claudia a few times on the streets near Rittenhouse Square over the next few days, and were anxious to keep in touch and try and support her. But soon they could no longer find her. With the weather growing colder, they were concerned about her -- but felt helpless.
After many inquiries, someone told Riki that she should contact a certain Catholic nun who ran a residence for women who had experienced chronic homelessness and were mentally ill. If anyone could find a chronically homeless person in Philadelphia, she was told, it was this nun. So, out of the blue, Riki contacted Sister Mary Scullion and explained the situation. Oh yes, Sister Mary knew Claudia well and was eager to help. The next day, Riki went to see Sister Mary at the Women of Hope residence. Sister Mary took Riki to where Claudia was staying. They brought blankets and rekindled the connection. Not long after that, Claudia came into Women of Hope.
That night, Claudia took a critical step in overcoming homelessness – she would eventually become of the first residents at Project HOME’s first permanent housing facility at 1515 Fairmount Avenue, where she would flourish, going back to college, finding employment, even tutoring U.Penn gr
aduate students in German (see her picture to the right).
Also that night, Riki Wagman made a precious new friend in Sister Mary. She began to accompany Sister Mary in her outreach to persons on the streets. She and Howard became enthusiastic supporters and ambassadors for Project HOME. She convinced many of her wealthy and influential friends in the Philadelphia area to become connected and join the cause of working to end homelessness. A published novelist, Riki held the book release for her newest novel at 1515 Fairmount Avenue, which at the time housed a bookstore that provided employment for residents. For several years, she served as a Project HOME Trustee, and recently became a Trustee Emeritus.
Riki’s support, and her many connections, played a critical role in Project HOME’s growth throughout the 1990s – and even to this day. She always showed deep compassion and respect for our residents. By working to bridge social divides and bring people together, Riki was a pivotal figure not only in the expansion of our community and our mission, but in the work of ending homelessness in Philadelphia. And she always credited her deep friendship with Sister Mary as being a transformative experience in her life. “Getting in touch with Mary, her work and who she is, really ripped all the edges away. She taught me to move beyond my small world, which for me was the best thing that ever happened." Sister Mary was moved, upon meeting Riki, by her deep concern and loyalty for her friend Claudia who had fallen into such hard times – a concern that expanded into compassion for the many persons who were still on the streets.
Riki Wagman passed away on January 27 in New York City where she had lived for the past several years. (Howard died in 2011. Claudia lived at 1515 Fairmount Avenue until her death in 2004.) While we had seen less of her in recent years, Riki was always a valuable and loving part of our community. “Riki was a remarkable woman in so many ways,” Sister Mary reflects, “but the one thing that impressed me the most was her ability to connect with a very diverse group of people especially woman. She worked tirelessly to encourage all to achieve their potential and be true to themselves. Riki will be dearly missed.”
We are grateful for the very concrete and substantial ways she contributed to our work, but we are more grateful for her spirit of love, compassion, and tenderness that enriched our lives in so many ways.
