Susan Sheehan, Pulitzer-Winning Chronicler of Lives on the Margins, Dies at 88

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by Trip Gabriel

February 23, 2026

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Susan Sheehan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author known for her deeply humanizing portraits of individuals on society’s fringes, has passed away at 88. Her work, which often began as detailed series in *The New Yorker*, explored the lives of marginalized people with unparalleled rigor and empathy. Among her most notable works is the Pulitzer-winning book *“Is There No Place on Earth for Me?”*, a searing account of Sylvia Frumkin’s journey with schizophrenia. The book, originally a four-part series in *The New Yorker*, depicted Sylvia’s struggle as she navigated life between her parents’ home, a supervised apartment, and Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens. Susan Sheehan’s meticulous reporting style earned her widespread acclaim for its unflinching honesty and journalistic precision. Over the course of two years, she immersed herself in Sylvia’s world, even sleeping on a cot in her hospital room to capture the raw reality of her experience. The book was praised as a “journalistic tour de force,” with reviewers lauding Sheehan’s ability to paint vivid, unforgettable characters without sensationalizing their struggles. Her work not only shed light on mental health but also challenged readers to empathize with those often overlooked by society. Beyond *“Is There No Place on Earth for Me?”*, Sheehan authored eight books, each delving into the lives of individuals living on life’s margins. Her writing was characterized by its depth, detail, and unwavering commitment to understanding her subjects’

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/23/2026