Empowerment Embodied
We are saddened to share the passing of Helen Gilhooly, a deeply loved mentor, leader, and champion for a world that works for everyone. Helen was born on September 8, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, and passed away peacefully at age 84 on October 7, 2025. Though her health had begun to decline, her energy, humor, and vitality remained strong to the very end.
Helen began her career as a nurse in New York before moving to San Francisco, where in 1971 she met Werner Erhard and began a lifelong journey dedicated to people’s growth and transformation. Over the next five decades, she became one of the guiding forces behind Landmark’s Wisdom Area. Together with Brian Regnier and others, she helped design and lead programs that inspired thousands to live with purpose, compassion, and freedom.
Helen also worked closely with Werner Erhard, Brian Regnier, and her cousin Father Gerry O’Rourke in creating the Mastery Foundation, empowering faith and community leaders to bring new possibilities to their congregations and communities. She co-created and led the Power and Contribution Course, which helped launch many humanitarian projects around the world, and was instrumental in establishing the Conference for Global Transformation, now in its 25th year.
Helen had a rare gift for seeing greatness in people before they saw it themselves. She was direct, funny, and endlessly caring. Many found that simply being in her presence brought healing and peace.
Helen’s laughter, love, and spirit will be profoundly missed—and her impact will continue to ripple through the lives of all she touched.
As Helen would remind us: Expect miracles.
Anyone whose life has been touched by Helen is invited to join a virtual celebration of her life taking place on Sunday Nov 16, from 1:00pm- 2:30pm Pacific Time. You can join on Zoom http://www.zoom.us/j/93382360794