Dab's Angel September 2007 Frieda Saraga

Frieda Saraga was born in Gary, Indiana, May 2, 1933. She came with her mother, father, brother and grandparents to Jacksonville at the age of 7. She met her soon to be husband at the ripe young age of 15. Her husband Leonard, had moved to Jacksonville with his parents from Brooklyn, NY. They both helped out in their respective family businesses after school everyday.

On December 24,1950, Frieda and Leonard exchanged their wedding vows and have remained married for nearly 57 years. They raised 5 children through the 50’s, 60’s, and yes even into the 70’s. They had their own family business selling western wear until 1989.

After closing the businesses, Frieda began her search for more meaning in her life. This journey led her down many paths with her final goal of making a real difference with her remaining years. She started doing volunteer HIV counseling and testing at the old Main Street Clinic in 1989 and received an award as Volunteer of the Year in 1991.

She has continued these duties at her current job at Planned Parenthood of North Florida as part of her multi faceted duties as Director of Health Education. She currently is certified to go into Duval County Schools and County Corrections Department facilities as a health educator teaching HIV prevention and reproductive health.

Wanting to still do volunteer work with all of her “free time” she began co-facilitating, with Judy Higgison, an HIV/AIDS support group called Positive Attitudes. She has been continuously operating this group as co-facilitator every Tuesday evening since 1991.

In 1992, Frieda and her husband Leonard spearheaded what was to become PFLAG of Jacksonville. With 3 of their own children being gay, they saw a need for support, education and advocacy in our community. Her main focus with PFLAG has become the Scholarship Program. Since 1996, with the help of many others that she has inspired, PFLAG of Jacksonville has given out $106,000 in college scholarships to local members of the GLBT community.

Today, along with her family that now consists of a daughter in California, a daughter and her partner in St. Paul, Minnesota, another daughter and her partner here in Jacksonville, her son here in Jacksonville, and another son and his wife living in Ponte Vedra with Frieda’s 3 grandchildren, she stays on the go constantly. Frieda is “truly timeless and never seems to age” says her gay son. We are all very blessed to have her here in Jacksonville.

(On a personal note, I have had the honor and fortune of knowing Frieda and calling her friend for many years. She is a "second mom" to so many in the HIV and GLBT communities. She stands up for who and what she believes. She also has more energy than most 21 year olds. She is a true role model for all of us.) - Daddy Dab

For these and many more reasons, Frieda Saraga is our Dab's Angel for September 2007.