#FreePeterMax
An Urgent Call to Save the Life of Peter Max
Peter Max – Pop Artist, 84-year-old devoted and loving father, loyal and compassionate friend, Holocaust survivor, animal and human rights advocate, and a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease – is being kept in forced isolation in a predatory guardianship in New York City. The guardianship has depleted his hard-earned life’s earnings by over $16 million, with millions being paid, without his permission, to the court-appointed guardians and attorneys who now control all aspects of his life.
Since 2019, Peter’s family and friends have been privately waging a legal battle to free Peter from his involuntary isolation at the hands of strangers; restore to him his dignity; and allow him to be surrounded by loved ones at the end of his life. After three years of isolation, Peter’s loved ones fear he is losing his will to live. His health has steeply declined; he appears dangerously over-medicated; and his family and friends fear for his life.
Peter is gentle, loving, and a deeply sensitive man. Everyone close to him knows that he thrives with companionship and suffers without it. Peter was born in Nazi Germany; he escaped with only his parents, with most of his family killed by the Nazis. He grew up as a refugee in Shanghai. The trauma and loss that Peter experienced at a young age has stayed with him throughout his life. Peter arrived in Brooklyn as a teenage immigrant with a hope for the American dream and a love for freedom. The beauty in his art was his answer to the war.
Can you imagine having dedicated your entire life to nurturing a family, a successful career, and many deep, loving, and lasting relationships, only to find yourself, at the hands of a complete stranger, a court-appointed guardian:
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being held in forced isolation nearly 24 hours a day;
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being forbidden from seeing your loved ones (including your own children) unless they lodge a formal written request, and, when you are permitted to see them, visits are severely time limited, closely surveilled, and reported on;
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being prohibited from having any visitors, ever, in your own home (including your children), which had for decades been a hive of bustling activity filled with love and laughter;
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being forbidden from being cared for by your children, notwithstanding your articulated desire to be cared for by them at the end of your life, just as you cared for your parents at the end of theirs;
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having your phone confiscated so you cannot make any calls, and having to ask permission to use your own phone to call your own children;
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having all of your medical decisions made by a for-profit and unfamiliar court-appointed guardian (a lawyer) who has no medical or geriatric training, and having all your medical information withheld from your family, despite the fact that you had named your children in your Health Care Proxy;
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having your beloved rescued cats cruelly taken away from you, never mind that you were deeply attached to them and had enjoyed the company of animals in your home for over 60 years;
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being surveilled in your own home 24 hours a day through cameras recording both audio and visual with a direct feed to a court-appointed guardian’s cell phone, so that the lonely, disorienting life that has been forced on you can be constantly observed, in violation of your privacy rights and civil liberties;
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being restricted from going to your own art studio, the very place you created and where your self- expression flourished for decades;
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having your life-long friends being required to sign a daunting non-disclosure agreement before they are even allowed to speak to you, and, when you are permitted to speak to them, you are forced to hang up mid-conversation;
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repeatedly asking for the companionship of your family and friends, only for your court-appointed guardian to ignore your pleas;
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having your existing legal and estate planning documents voided;
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being prohibited from speaking to your long-time attorney, and having counsel thrust upon you that you did not choose; and
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having your hard-earned financial assets liquidated for the benefit of court-appointed strangers.
It took a beautiful imagination to create Peter’s artistic world of color, joy, happiness, and love. It took a lifetime of hard work to achieve his personal success, with the independence and security that success gave him. What right does anyone have to take all of that away?
The guardianship of Peter Max has descended into captivity, where protection in theory has become exploitation in practice; a case study of just how much can go wrong when the vast powers of the State are turned against the interests of the person those powers are meant to protect. It is a textbook example of a predatory guardianship: Isolate; Medicate; Steal the Estate.
Peter and his family have been denied the most essential Constitutional right to familial privacy – the right of the family to remain together without the coercive interference of the awesome power of the State.
Peter’s final wishes are being ignored and his most fundamental Constitutional and Human Rights violated.
We, the undersigned, ask that Peter Max’s unnecessary and unjust guardianship end so that Peter can be returned to the care of his family, as he has been pleading for since 2019, and so that he can receive an immediate and critical medical evaluation.
We stand in solidarity with the millions of victims of guardianship abuse and their families.
Libra Max
Daughter
Morgan Greene
Cousin
Les Gurren
Cousin
"Peter’s family, of which I am a member, escaped Nazi Germany in 1938 only to be imprisoned again at the hands of governmental officials."
Rachel Binshtok
Cousin
"I want him to be set free into the arms of his loving daughter Libra."
Michelle Guliner-Monahan
Cousin
Norman Goldsobel
Cousin
Rosie Vela
Model, Songwriter, and Peter's former partner/friend of 47 years
Ruth McCartney
"Met Peter as a child through The Beatles and step-brother Paul."
Tony Danza
Friend, Actor
Fab 5 Freddy Brathwaite
Artist, Filmmaker, Hip Hop Pioneer
Joe DiMaggio, Jr.
Peter's Friend since 1984
"Appalled by this atrocity."
Holly Robinson Peete
Actress, Singer, Talk Show Host
"I care!!"
Dr. Susan Jakubowicz
Friend, Psychoanalyst
"Peter should not be held hostage."
Theodora Redmond
"Family has always been Peter Max's priority and I have witnessed him care in person for his own father Jakob until his very last days in NYC. I have seen him care for his children and long-time friends who are family to him. I can't believe isolating him from his loved ones can be good for him and as a matter of fact, believe that it is detrimental to his happiness and health. The lack of transparency of his everyday care, added to the control of his communication and visits with his friends and family members indicates wrong-doing in his actual conservatorship. Please release him to the care of his daughter Libra."
Frances Fisher
Actor
"Peter deserves freedom."
Dr. Jenn Mann, LMFT
VH1 Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn
Marian Cornicky
Victim of Guardianship Abuse, Parents in Abusive Guardianship
Lori Marston
Licensed Family Therapist
Elaine McLaughlin
"He escaped the Nazis to now being held in captivity once again?! How can this happen here in the US of A? We should all be appalled and ashamed! Give him back to his loved ones!"
Sam Sugar, M.D.
Founder-President, Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship (AAAPG)
Mother-in-law died in exploitative guardianship
Mimi Gelb, MS, LMFT
Peter’s friend of 45 years
Calico Cooper
Actress, Artist, Choreographer, Daughter of Alice Cooper
"Peter Is a long time family friend. He deserves dignity, the hands of love of his family, and freedom."
Dr. Kenneth Crawford
Retired Educational Leader, Artist, Doctor
Dr. Leslie Vogel
"To support Mr. Max's human rights to express a preference as to whom he trusts and whom he wants to spend time with."
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Ph.D.
Founder, ElderDignity.org
Aunt died after 8 years in exploitative guardianship
Linda Kincaid, MPH
Co-Chair, Coalition for Elder and Disability Rights
Dr. Eric Rutberg
"Scholarly knowledge of the concerns and personal interest in the best care for Peter Max."
Ada Lau
Peter's friend and curator for 29 years
Pamela Bowen-Stanley
Actress & Friend
"Peter has always been a lover of life, family & friends. This guardianship is so criminal on so many levels. Peter has given his all to art & he should be able to live his life with loved ones. His family have a god given right to take care of him. This is so unjust & unfair. Please free Peter Max."
Barrie Blue
Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Creative
"Known him since I was a kid."
Dr. Margaret Richards
"My mother is an art history major and Peter Max was held with great esteem in my household growing up. He brought joy to my life at a very young age and I wish joy for him in his now older age."
Aura Kolnik
Descendent of Holocaust Survivors
Dr. Marielle Kaifer
"Follower of Peter Max’s work for years. Appalled by his reported treatment."
Susan Cookus
"It is not right what is happening to Peter. Alzheimer’s and a Holocaust survivor and he is such a talented man. He deserves respect and to be treated with dignity."
Sande Bloom
Max Collector, Lifelong Fan, Holocaust Descendant
Erin Paul
Artist
"Peter Max deserves dignity in the last chapters of his life. This conservatorship he is in has been causing trauma and reminding him of trauma he survived during the Holocaust."
Christine Sirunj
"I’m calling out this Elder Abuse & Wrongful Imprisonment… Who the hell do you people think you are jailing a Holocaust survivor & keeping him from his own children?!!!"
Eric Crawford
"The man escaped Nazi Germany and can’t even be free in the USA."
Joshua Mendoza
"Let my man have a good last couple years. He escaped the Nazis, he doesn’t need to live like this."
Peter Fogel
Musician
"Mr. Max needs to be freed to his blood relatives."
Carmen De Isla
"Guardianships are abusive and are designed to isolate and strip victims of their rights."
Jodee Sussman
"My mom is also a victim of a fraudulent abusive conservatorship in SoCal."
Andres Sandoval
"I am a victim of the corrupt laws that corrupt lawyers take your life savings and family in a corrupt court."
Bettina Barbier
"These types of guardianships and conservatorships are a travesty. The guardians and conservators siphon money away from their victims while keeping them isolated to cover their crimes. The victims of such arrangements should be listened to, as should their long time friends and family. We have seen Britney Spears freed from her ordeal. Peter Max and all who suffer under the absolute control of such “guardians” should be freed as from their captors as well."
Margaret Barron
"Elderly neighbor and friend was victim of guardianship."
Pili Mo’o Sulu-ape
International, Award-Winning Tattoo Artist, Tatau Master
"Human rights/defending artist’s spirit and legacy."
Dylan Spence
Co-Founder, FreeBritney America
Jesse Simon
Model/Talent Agent: Ford Models, LA Models, OPC Management
Bebe Buell
Friend for Decades, Model & Singer
Errol Rappaport
Probate Reform Advocate
Mother died under exploitative guardianship
Lawrence Carter-Long
Disability Rights Activist
Peter’s friend of 19 years
Kathleen Dunn
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Mother died under exploitative guardianship
Dr. Bruce Milner
Friend for years and Peter's Dentist for years
Kevin Wildemann
FreeBritney and Conservatorship Abuse Advocate
Michael Gill
Merchant Marine, FreeBritney Advocate
Chloe Williams
FreeBritney & Conservatorship Abuse Advocate
Melissa Riccardi
FreeBritney Advocate
David Pullman
Founder of the Pullman Group, Longtime Family Friend
Anne Janeski
Shared Guru - Swami Satchidananda/Founder of Integral Yoga
Coppy Holzman
Founder of CharityBuzz, Friend and Supporter
Patricia Weich
Writer "Constitutional Rights of Freedom & Justice"
Ann Morris
"Justice for Peter."
Maureen Turci
Artist and Printmaker
Colleague of Peter's since 1980
Lori Peterson
Civil Rights Lawyer and Animal Activist
Amanda Beran
"End Conservatorship Abuse."
Karen Kreps
Supporter of 50 years through Swami Satchidananda yoga
Alan Perlman
Dear Friend of Peter and Libra, Collector
Silvana Mace
"Horrible. This is an infringement of their rights."
Donna Reid O'Neil
Mother died in exploitative guardianship
Dr. Willie Bierman
Doctor
Rio Hamilton
Son of Victimized Parent
Alicia Yaffe
SVP of Warner Music Group
Dr. Frank Sabatino
"I feel deeply concerned for Peter’s welfare; connected through his beautiful view of life expressed in his art. Love will find a way."
Lynn & Alan Sayler
Guardianship Reform Advocates,
Lynn’s mother died in exploitative guardianship
Julie Anne Rhodes
Family Friend and Collector
Simone Reyes
Close Friend of the Family
Teresa Jones
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Dr. Robin Futoran
Supporter, Friend of Peter Max
Dorothy Michaels
Friend and Neighbor of Peter for over 50 years
Lawrence Zupan
Peter's friend of 55 years
John Ciafone
Attorney
"I have seen bad Guardianship Proceedings and situations where the process is abused."
Russ Gibson
Retired Sheriff
"Any American citizen who has given so much to his or her community has every right to live free…Give this man and his family, return to him his dignity!!"
Noël Alexandra Canfield
Registered Nurse
Don Rittner
Author, Filmmaker, Historian, Anthropology Professor
Eve Baer
Real Life Coach and Reverend Mother
Susan Gaynor
Registered Nurse
Dr. Zoraida Navarro
"Fighting the same thing in Florida with my father."
Dr. Ivy England
FREE PETER MAX
Bonnie Goodman
"Hoping to help Peter Max's family."
Debra Trew
Elder Advocate
Lori Burns
Social Justice and Anti-Exploitation Advocate
Sandy Klein Montalvo
"So horrible, so wrong and so sad."
Rey Contreras
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Rob McKenna
Mom is in very corrupt conservatorship like Peter Max
Lisa Richards
Civil Rights Activist
Marcia Friedman
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Mother died in exploitative guardianship
Daniel O’Connell
Retired Warden NYC Department of Corrections
Peri Sedigh
Attorney
"As an attorney I recognize the entire guardianship process can be so abusive and exploitative of the very people commissioned to protect. The system needs reform."
Adam Sokolow
Peter Max Studio operations manager for 33 years
"Peter loves to be around his friends and family- to isolate him is beyond criminal!"
Sandra Hoh
Retired RN
Lisa Cohen
Family Friend of 40+ years
"Peter Max and his loving daughter, Libra have been close friends of mine since childhood."
Valerie McAndrews
Senior Producer, Human Rights Advocate
Todd Spradlin
Producer, Friend of the Family
Ann Garcia
Executive Director
John Gunn Sr.
Father of Chris Gunn, who is currently trapped in an abusive guardianship
Glennis McGregor
"Heartbroken for any isolated and mistreated person."
Judith Brown
Registered Nurse
"No person should be held against their children’s wishes, and isolated from their family."
Leslie Chase
"I'm appalled that his loving family are not given the rights to care for and love him."
Terri Odom
Animal Advocate
"Everyone deserves to finish their journey surrounded by the people and animals they love most."
Natalie Mbogo
"Exploitative guardianships need to be analyzed and ended."
Susan Houser
"Family should be in charge."
Giovanni Martins
"SAVE MAX."
Anthony Coleman
"..to seek profit from Peter's legacy stains both the life he lives today and the legacy he deserves tomorrow."
Pam Holt
Family Friend
"I am a great admirer of Peter Max and his daughter Libra. This is criminal!"
Brigitte Graf
"This is wrong. He has to be with his family."
Gaye Mitchell
Concerned friend
"Return him to his family."
Leisa Hartnett
"Terrible injustice to Peter."
Toni Castorino
"Supporter or those being held involuntarily."
Amy Sacks
Fellow Animal Lover
"Undo this guardianship!"
Enrique Vélez
"Liberty for Peter Max and Britney!"
Stephanie Snyder
A Fan
"Sad to see loving family and friends kept from a loved one."
Sharon Jaffe
Animal advocate
"My sister and I care for our 97 year old father. He is healthy and extremely happy, living a stress-free existence. Peter Max deserves that and much more."
Trevor Jackson
"Peter deserves to love his life as he chooses with his loving family by his side."
Mary Adams
"Bring awareness to a corrupt system and elder abuse. Let Peter be with his friends and family and honor his wishes, estate planning and will."
Elizabeth Liz
"This is unjust - his family wants to help him and this looks like a financial grab"
Natalia Villalpando
"Signing to save Peter!!"
Christina Reekers
"Human injustice."
Roger C. Memos
"This is unjust and NOT acceptable!"
Joan Andre
"Aging with dignity is a right."
Muriel Reilly
"Peter Max deserves to be cared for with love, by his family."
Nikki Cohen
"This is so awful, hoping you are successful in your efforts."
Harriet Rose
Comedian, Actress, and Advocate
"A disgrace and not humane. This is deadly abuse of the voices that are silent because of disease."
Mark Burke Koppel
"This is illegal. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. NOW."
JoAnn Immanuel
Expressionist Artist, Supporter
"I love Peter Max, and am appalled."
Jacy Mann
"We need to reform these corrupt laws that allow greedy people to take advantage of a person's civil rights and financials."
Jessica C.
Human Rights & Disability Advocate
"No one should be taken away from family."
Katarra Peterson
Artist
"Peter has given so much to so many. His liberty is the very least of what he deserves. #FreePeterMax."
Bonny Mutty
"There is no oversight on guardians. Family is shut out of any due process."
Seana Katz
"Family should be allowed to give love and care till the end."
Ellen Ericksen
Friend and Activist
Nicolas Scheer
"I want to help people living in abusive conditions."
Ellen Orsa
Senior Care Manager
"Restore dignity and rights to Peter Max, his family and friends."
Liana Abramson
"Peter max deserves his freedom and god given rights. He is an incredible artist who has contributed much to society, and he deserves to live the rest of his life in peace and happiness."
Paige Hinton
"No one should be treated this way."
Thomas McDonald
"No one should have their freedoms taken away without due cause. Especially by the 'law.' No conservatorship should be approved without multiple different evaluation by unbiased parties."
Ginny Soule
"He needs his family."
Catherine Wagner
"This is cruel and unusual and needs to be fixed."
Susan Schops
Cousin
Jane Scher
Cousin, Nurse
Mia Gardner
Cousin
Eli Binshtok
Cousin, RN
"He loves his family so much when we were with him he made us feel so important. I hope he gets reunited with his family!"
Johanna Lerfel
Executive Director, Cousin
Lynne Joachim
Cousin
Michael Lang
Creator & Producer, Woodstock Festival
Peter’s friend of 52 years
Tom Freston
Former Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks, COO, Viacom Firefly3
Peter’s friend of 40 years
Betsy Johnson
Legendary Fashion Designer
"How dare this be allowed in this United States of America. Shame, shame, shame."
Rabbi Haskell Bernat
Supporter and Peter Max Collector
Senator George Borrello
New York State Senate, 57th District
Sandy Linter
Legendary Makeup Artist
"Peter Max and all Alzheimer’s patients deserve a quality of life that includes the people who love them. They are not to be looked at as a money till but as humans."
Victor Stabin
Artist, Friend
"Deep amirations for an artist, who was one of a kind. I know Libra and Peter; their father daughter connection is real and as sincere as it gets. To hear that she has been marginalied is horrifying. Peter has lead an intrepid life and deserves the harth of his closet kin."
Nadia Antrobus
"My case has many similarities with that of Ms. Libra Max with whom I briefly attended the Calhoun School. My mother was forced into guardianship which turned out to be corrupt . The first guardian, and the following 3 guardians isolated my mother and ‘stole’ as much of her money as possible. My mother passed away 2 years ago during the court battle which still continues after 6 years. Her last guardian refuses to release her estate money. I doubt if I will ever recover from the emotional hell I have gone through and continue to experience."
Dr. Will Tuttle
Friend and Colleague
Edward Tricomi
Founder & Principal, Warren Tricomi
Peter’s friend of 45 years
Dr. Margaret Higgins
"Family should be in charge not the state."
Lauren Olson
Artist
"Someone with family and friends should not be left alone. Loneliness kills. No pets? No human contact? It's a death sentence!! The very art studio that allowed him to harness his talent into financial wealth; the very wealth that's the driving motive of his captivity, being stolen by the captors, that very art studio that was his livelihood is off limits to the man? Who gets to say how he should spend his last days if not the people who've loved and cared for him for decades!?"
BJ Courville
Lawyer
Dr. Caren Gertner Fritts
Psychologist
"Lover of Peter's Art and Soul, having met this gentle spirit."
Junilyn Vetura, MBA, MSN, RN
Patient Advocate, Peter's friend, admirer, and supporter since 2011
"This is a terrible form of elder abuse."
Prof. Philip C. Marshall
Grandson of Brooke Astor
Founder, BeyondBrooke.org
Pamela Hasselhoff
Actor, Director, Producer
"Appalled and against the corruption and deception against an innocent an accomplished and outstanding man and the pathetic pain put in him and his daughter and family and friends all for greed!!!"
Uma Pemmaraju
Journalist, National Television News Anchor & Host
"I have been a friend for many years and deeply respect Peter’s dedication to peace and fostering a wonderful humanitarian spirit through his timeless artistic genius. Peter’s plight is unimaginable. Peter’s love for America runs deep and how tragic that the principles of freedom and justice that are a hallmark of this great nation are being sidelined for reasons that defy logic. It is my hope that the court reverses the guardianship order and allows his family to give him the much needed care he so desperately needs. Urgent compassion is needed now!"
Dr. Gary Marder
"A family member is the best advocate."
Dr. Lawrence Fine
"This situation can happen to anyone!It is clearly a miscarriage of fiduciary responsibility on the part of caretaker They should be careGIVERS and not careTakers!!"
Dr. Deborah Winograd
Art Collector, Doctor
Dr. Jeff Shapiro
Sandee Sanford
"As an RN, I am an advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. Isolation is abuse!"
Jacqueline Costello
Descendent of Holocaust Survivors
Chris Kappy
Founder & Owner of Make Wake Artists, Manager of Luke Combs
Albert Fisher
TV Producer & Director, Close Friend of Peter's since 1965
Elvira Chanlatte
"He deserves his freedom, he is a survivor of the Holocaust, he needs to be finally liberated, give him back his dignity, he has given us so much."
Dr. Bob Schaefer
Doctor
Donald Wilkes
Son of a Holocaust Survivor, Business Owner and Artist
Kristi Grauman
"He deserves to be free and with loved ones. He didn’t survive the Holocaust to now be captive."
Marine Michel
"Free the artist and survivor Holocaust Peter Max. For he's one of the most successful and representative American artists."
Dr. Victoria Adams
"The guardianship does little to benefit Max."
Leah Rumbough
"He proudly came to this country to escape Nazi Germany. What happened to our beloved “land of the free”? Unacceptable cruelties like this should never be tolerated. Compassion and kindness must prevail. Peter deserves better. We ALL deserve better."
Denita Lambou
Victim of Guardianship Abuse
Eileen Weiss
"Family member was victim of elder abuse."
Barbara Stone
"My mother and I are victims of this crime syndicate run through the courts in the pretense of "guardianship.'"
Dr. K. Hahner
Doctor
Jeanne Wagner
Artist
"Peter Max should have full access to his family & friends without surveillance, & anyone using his fortune to pad their pockets by keeping him separated from loved ones should be ashamed."
Ric O'Barry
Founder/Director, Dolphin Project
Peter’s friend of 34 years
Dr. Ken Miller
"Investigation of injustice & possible abuse."
Louie Psihoyos
Friend, National Geographic Photographer, Oscar Winner
Rick and Terri Black
Founders of Center for Estate Administration Reform (CEAR)
Terri's father died under guardianship
David Lett
Auxiliary Bishop
"#FreePeterMax."
Dr. Sarah Wilkins
Doctor
Sarah Orbanic
Photographer
Ashia Chacko, EdM
Psychologist and Social Justice Advocate
David Young
Partner, ROAM Private Air Maui
"Everyone deserves the right to live free from abuse."
Wanda Huberman
Executive Director of National Health Association
John Fernandes
FreeBritney Activist Against Conservatorship Abuse
Harry Pistorio
FreeBritney Advocate/Guardianship Abuse Activist
Rhett Rosen
Attorney, CEO of Trader Vic’s Worldwide
Melissa Carbone
Founder of Ten Thirty One Productions, Entrepreneur, and Friend
Dean Fearing
Restaurant Owner, Author
Susan Binau
Founder of Grief Heroes Foundation
David Rivé
Arts Writer, Supporter
Pamela Fortenberry
"Captivity is wrong in any form or fashion."
Vincent Marchica
Friend of Libra Max. Lifelong lover of Peter's art.
Jean Upton
Friend since 1971
"Peter took me under his wing when I was a teenager. I owe him my life."
Tracy Archer
Close Friend and former Peter Max Employee
Ann Taylor
Peter's friend of 25 years and employee of 20 years
Joanne Bougalis
Living in-exile in Greece after rescuing mother from exploitative guardianship
Suzanne DeRose
"Against guardianship without regard for family and friends."
Nancy Hayman
Protestor of Elder Abuse
Daniel Orvik
Friend of Daughter, Human Rights Advocate
Gary Stromberg
Film Producer
"Friend for 40 years. God bless you."
Deborah Rankin
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Douglas Franks
Probate Reform Advocate, FreeErnestine.com
Saved mother from exploitative guardianship
Jennifer Bro
Probate Reform Advocate, Human Rights Advocate
Dr. Stulc
Doctor
Terri & Mickey McGuire
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Louis Levin
Friend for 20 years
Shar Sosh
Artist, Friend
"Peter and I have been friends for many years. He is a warm gentle soul…I only met Libra once but knew his son. I miss talking to Peter about art. And think it is terrible what the courts are doing to him…Peter needs to be returned to his daughter!!!! How dare they do this."
Suki Miller
Social Worker
"Because court appointed guardianship laws should be changed as this treatment should not be permitted in the US."
Dr. Tetyana Dovzhuk
"He deserves to be free!"
Elana Cooperman
Social Worker
"Keeping this poor soul without his family friends and support animals is cruel and inhumane. This should go before an ethics board and a judge"
Amy J. Koreen
Attorney
Lesa Cook
Registered Nurse
Lois Eastlund
Longtime fan
Benjamin Brody
Former Studio Assistant to Peter Max
"Peter deserves to be around his family and loved ones."
Mikel Wintermantel
Artist and Advocate for Respectful Hospice Care
John L. Gard
Design Director, Friend since 1971
Susan Datri
Clinical Social Worker
Ellen Letnik
Geriatric Psychiatry Nurse
Nirupa Singh
Family Member under Guardianship
Ciara Joyce
Advocate Guardianship Abuse
Laura Nelson
Advocate of Justice and Peace
Peter Millrose
Music Producer
Friend of Peter's daughter
Angela Smith
"No one should die without their family near."
Xargers Demirtas
"#FreePeterMax from this unfair and corrupted system."
Jake Boyce
"End guardianship and conservatorship abuse."
Jeff Van Syckle
Professor of Psychology
"Long time lover of Max’s work and believer that no one should be subject to this type of conservatorships."
Meg Halski
Director
Emily Jonas, Esq.
"No human being deserves this!"
Amanda Pendleton
APRN, Human Rights Advocate
Mindy Golann
Registered Nurse, Fan, Geriatric RN
Azu Nieves
LMSW
Amy Gdala
Founder, SecureWomen.org
Anjana Mebane-Cruz
Ph.D.
Robby Melnick
"Release Peter Max To His Daughter, Libra. I grew up in the 1960's LOVING Peter Max's Art and him as a Beautiful Soul"
Angela Kuda
"Free Peter Max, so he can be with his beloved ones and gets his dignity back."
Slim Khezri
Award-winning Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Businessman
"This tragic and heartbreaking. Peter Max needs to be taken care of immediately."
Jessica Piele
"Sending love and hope he’s freed."
Patricia Rojas Clinton
"Liberty Justice for ALL"
Selina Grissom
"No one should be treated this way!!"
Donny Moss
Animal Rights Campaigner with TheirTurn.net
"This guardianship is cruel, exploitive and unnecessary"
Lesa Martino
Father in abusive, exploitative, and isolated guardianship
Barbara Audiss
"Help a wonderful fellow being."
Kali Mutty
Chief Operating Officer at Multihouse
"Justice for Peter and his family."
Annelee Ochel
"Grateful appreciator of Peter’s work and compassion."
Elizabeth Pandolfelli
"I am appalled at the treatment this amazing humanitarian and artistic icon. How dare any “system” be allowed to strip a man of all that he’s lived and worked for his entire lifetime?? This is unconscionable!!!"
Violet Marotta
Occupational Therapist
"This guardianship is not right and I felt the need to sign to end it."
Peter Turok
Friend
"I care and trust Libra."
Taylor Pawlowski
"SHOULD BE HEAVILY INVESTIGATING THESE CASES WTF."
Dina Giangregorio
"Signing because hearing his situation makes my blood boil."
Rich Hart
Fine Art Dealer, Appraiser, Auctioneer, Author
"Peter is an american icon and should be with those he loves."
Judi and Patrick Gogolen
"We are all God's children. He has loving family and friends who he needs to be with, who will ensure his safety and medical care lovingly."
Christian Bonnor
"Peter deserves to be with his family."
Nancy Rabach
Collector, Friend of Peter
"My heart hurts knowing that Peter is living like this! This is painful and unfair."
Joy Whisnant
"This Is Guardianship Abuse."
Glyn Jaime
Peter Max painted our wedding picture
"No one should be kept against their will. This is UNACCEPTABLE!! #freepetermax."
Debra Voulgaris
Veterinarian
"Peter is being denied his basic Human Rights and is being held against his will. This is an outrage."
Ronni Frey
Peter Max Employee
"Great affection for Peter and his work."
Bruce Jeffreys
"Conservatorship abuse must end!"
Michael Harford
Retired County Commissioner
"Human Dignity has no limits."
Alice Fratus-Nodel
Client Manager
"I work with the elderly and to many times greed takes more than money from those who are not able to handle there affairs anymore. Every person deserves dignity, respect and love."
Linda Dionne
"Peter helped us in the early 2000's, offering a portrait in lieu of the Miss NH fur coat. A gentle man with a heart for the animals."
Carol Moon
Director of The Animal Project (NYC)
Thomas Lyon
Friend
"Signing to help Peter have dignity and companionship."
Daniel Rahmann
"Let’s shed light on abusive and corrupt guardianships."
Jeanette Morales
"No one should be held against their will if they want to go to their studio...let him."
Andrea Law
"Fighting for the end of conservatorships."
Maria Ianc
"Free Peter Max."
David Urban
"Let the man and his daughter be together."
Nadia Addasi
"Time is up! End conservatorship! Free Peter!"
Karen Munze
"Let the man have his family and the care he deserves free from those who may not have his best interest at heart."
Amanda Copeland
Friend
"Peter Max has been legally kidnapped and is being psychologically tortured being kept away from his family and friends."
Christin Olivier
"Everything that is being done to Peter Max in this imprisonment of a guardianship appears not for his health and wellness. Keeping family and lifelong friends away is a serious matter. No attorney knows someone well enough to take the place of family and lifelong friends. This is obviously a money grab. No family members can can question his medications, which can kill him. No one can question his diet, which can also contribute to his demise if it is not healthy. No one can question his ability to get fresh air, vitamin D, exercise and even a gym membership, which is incredibly helpful for many senior citizens who need assistance in staying fit. Pharmaceuticals tend to dumb the elderly down, and increase dementia, whereas exercise and a healthy lifestyle, increase longevity. Peter Max has been into health and wellness for years. His family supports that."
Monica Towner
Senior Nurse for NHS
Susan Saladino
"Injustice!"
Chris Leathers
"Very sad to read. Criminally unfair."
Hannah Brown
"This cannot be legal? How on earth can an individual be treated like this and have zero rights. The law must change and Peter Max should be allowed the freedom of choice like any other person."
Hart Gliedman
Cousin
Dr. Gary Marder
Cousin
Barbara Hochhauser
Cousin
David Chira
Cousin
Martine Lerfel
Cousin
Jessie Joachim Flanders
Cousin
Shep Gordon
Close Friend of Peter's for 40 years, Legendary Talent Manager, Agent, and Producer
Bradford Disney Lund
Grandson of Walt Disney
Mary L. Trump
Author
Beverly Newman
Director, The Al Katz Center for Holocaust Survivors and Jewish Learning
Father died in exploitive guardianship
Representative John Cortes
Florida House of Representatives, District 43 (Retired)
Victor Zurbel
Art Director, Peter Max Biographer
Peter’s friend of 55 years
Billy Squier
Rock Star
"No one should be subject to such treatment, let alone a man who has given so much to the world through his art."
Corwin Samuelson
"My father grew up near Peter's family in Shanghai. I've always felt a connection to him, and I strongly object to this abuse of this beautiful man."
Steven M. Wise
"I have been Peter's friend for more than 20 years and was once his biographer. I spent time with Peter whenever I was in NYC. He loves his daughter."
Felicia Tomasko, R.N.
LA Yoga, Editor & Registered Nurse
"Friend of Libra Max, longtime journalist and magazine editor, registered nurse. Believe in following the family's wishes and fulfill the stated wishes of Peter Max rather than exploiting him."
Christopher Minshall
"I've had family (including my own grandparents and various extended family) fleeced by ill-empowered legal / non-familial guardians. Stop the ill-mannered exclusive "legal" debauchery that is happening and restore rights to any living family. This is pure greed and selfishness unchecked, and it is definitely detrimental treatment to almost any ailing elderly human."
Lynda Bensky
President at Bensky Entertainment
Child of Shanghai Ghetto Survivor
Dr. Elyse Deleski, Ph.D. LMFT
Friend of Peter's daughter
Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor
Dr. Mariana Salerno
"Justice."
Sherry Lund
Probate Reform Advocate
Catherine Falk, MA
Daughter of Peter Falk
Family rights visitation advocate and pioneer of The Peter Falk Bill
Kerry Rooney-Mack
Daughter of Mickey Rooney,
Family Rights Advocate
Mindy Franklin Levine
Director, Yankees Universe Fund
Marti Frederiksen
Songwriter, Producer, Musician
Richard Calhoun
Co-Chair, Coalition for Elder and Disability Rights
Helen Cavallo
Chef, Owner of Food & Bounty, Host of That's Fresh & That's Fresh Colombia
"I hate injustices and this is definitely a grievous one."
David Fishman
Jewish/Animal Rights Advocate
Julie Horev
"I am also a child of Holocaust survivors, and despise predators of freedom like the people who have Mr. Max now."
Inna Galperin
Child of Holocaust Survivor
Michael Tessler
Hollywood Councilman, Award-Winning Producer
"To deny a Holocaust survivor his freedom after a lifetime spent celebrating liberty with art...is a travesty beyond words."
Arthur Rosato
Photographer, Audio and Video Producer, Director
Nathan Fawley
President, Duesenberg Guitars USA
Lynne Faut
"No one should be held against their will; especially a Holocaust survivor. Do not allow Peter Max’s life to end in captivity."
Inna Avra
"Please free this man he already survived the Holocaust he should not be trapped like this in his old age."
Sridhar Silberfein
Producer, Yogi, Friend of Peter's for 50 years
Adrienne Caldwell
"This is terrible. They took his cats away? That's devastating. What kind of law allows this treatment of a beloved senior citizen. They're traumatizing a Holocaust victim. Revictimizing the victim."
Trish Mullahey
Artist
"Because it sounds draconian, and makes me think that the Nazi rule that stole his early happiness has been reimposed."
Kathy Johnson
"Peter Max did not survive Nazi Germany, bring so much joy to so many through his art, and be the humanitarian he is just to be isolated from his loved ones."
Aldona Kumpin
Victim of Guardianship Abuse
Marla Zahn
Writer
"I am a victim of guardianship abuse and guardianships need to be abolished."
Rebecca Sahim
Artist Management
"Peter Max’s work is all about joy freedom and inspiration. This man is living a life of unjust suffering during the end of his life and he deserves to be with his loving family. This is cruel and I hope the state reverses this terrible fate."
Sherry Moses
"My mother was a guardianship victim and DIED."
Marian Kornicki
LMFT
"My parents and I are victims. There must be a criminal investigation and the state and county must be responsibly for allowing this decades - long corrupt take over of the courts by a legal-industrial racket."
Zuming Li
Peter's friend and photographer of 30 years
Cassandra Dumas
Co-Founder, FreeBritney America
Jim Greenbaum
Founder and Managing Director of The Greenbaum Foundation
Elizabeth Derringer
Peter's friend & PR Manager of 30 years
Andrew Daw
Former SVP Marketing for Universal Music, EVP of International Marketing for I Like You Management
Christine Montani
Senior Editor, Social Life Magazine
Mother in exploitative guardianship
Yolanda Bell, MS
Founder, Anastasia's Voice,
Sister died in exploitative guardianship
Eric Schiffer
Chairman and CEO, Patriarch Organization
James Costa
Friend and Film Producer
KC Mancebo
Entertainment Licensing Agent, Publisher, Artist Manager, Edgewise Music
Diane Appler
Artist
Karyn Miles
FreeBritney, Advocate Against Conservatorship Abuse
Joe Schick
CEO and Executive Director at Music & Memory, Alzheimer's patient advocate
Leesa Rowland
Friend of Peter Max
Founder and President of Animal Ashram nonprofit animal welfare group
Eriyah Flynn
Fan and founder of VeganShift
Charlie Ramirez
Ally against exploitative guardianship
Heather Gragg
Nurse Practitioner/concerned citizen
Cat Cora
Iron Chef, Fellow Artist
"I think it’s an atrocity to such an amazing human being. Peter had given so much to the world and to see such corruption and greed is appalling and inhuman. He needs to be with his loved one who will give him unconditional love and dignity. Every human being deserves those."
Jan Isherwood
Friend of the Family
Frank Lane
Believer in justice and dignity for all human beings
Joshua Avant
Standing against guardianship abuse
Kate Uhry
Close friend of Peter's daughter
Mary Shaughnessy
Friend of Libra and Daughter of Alzheimer's Sufferer
Neal Perchuk
Friend of Libra Max for over 50 years
Kari Esser
Advocate for the Vulnerable & Exploited
Dalia Tepper
Graphic Artist
"My family were holocaust survivors, escaping to Israel, where I was born and later immigrating to New York. Peter’s art was symbolic to us of the beauty and wonder of this beautiful country. We MUST regain the ethics and morality of this land before the evil takes over and all our freedoms are denied. This will no longer just be the Max’s war."
Michelle Meyer
"I am the daughter of a holocaust survivor, nobody should have to suffer this tragedy."
Marc Altshuler
Longtime Family Friend
Lynne Wasserman
Artist
"Return Peter Max to his family."
Jaxi Rothman
Longtime Friend of the Family
Lawrence T. Reid, Jr.
Guardianship Reform Advocate
Mother died under exploitative guardianship
Emily Wagner
Close friend of Peter's daughter
Benay Vynerib
Very concerned friend
Lawrence Newman
Director, Al Katz Center for Holocaust Survivors, Father-in-law and fellow Holocaust Survivor died in Florida violent guardianship
Dr. Kenneth Levine
"I’m an admirer of Peter, meeting him in his studio in 2010. He was a charming individual."
Vida Amaral, RN
Mother died in exploitative guardianship
Amber Beale
Paralegal
"I met Peter through Rosie Vela when I was a little girl, and he was one of the kindest people I've ever met. He deserves justice and freedom to be with his family."
Ra Rishikavi Raghudas
Writer, close friend of Peter
Deborah Anderson-Gaiser
Owner
Dr. Annette Greenfield
"Peter Max brought colour into my world."
Debra Hoffmann Knowles
Writer and Social Worker
Jennifer Marcu
Employee and Friend of Peters for 20+ years
Robert Dison
"Peter and I have been friends for more than 17 years. I know he wouldn't like living this way; the last time I saw him was the last time he did his show in Safety Harbor Florida and we were talking at our usual pace. I knew he was suffering from dementia but for the most part he and I chatted. I didn't know until just recently about what was going on with all of this. I was told it was just a matter of him not being able to travel anymore due to his age and dementia. Now I understand a few things that he was saying to me..."
Lisa Gliozzi
Registered Nurse/patient advocate
Hillary Hogue
Probate Reform Advocate,
Saved father from exploitative guardianship
Dan Piraro
Friend since 2004
Susan Scheponick
"I am sick to know this is happening in our country!"
Mars Green
Ethical supporter for his protection and well-being
Amy Trakinski
Attorney, Activist, Longtime Family Friend
Sophie Levine
Lifelong Friend of Max Family
Adam Campagna
Lifelong Family Friend
Runa Zurbel
Family friend for 50+ years
Marie Hegeman
Social Worker and Advocate for Older People
Jennifer Angelo
Former Personal Assistant to Peter Max
"Peter is devoted to his friends and family and should never have to be separated from those he loves so much."
John Jordan
Artist/Producer
Kathleen Brooks
Admirer and Freedom from Captivity Advocate
Nancy Tabb Marcantel
President of Animal Rescue Foundation of Louisiana
"Surely there is a way to allow Mr. Max to live out his days in peace and tranquillity without having his fellow human beings rob him of everything that he worked all his life for!"
Patricia Beaver
Art Director, Educator, Collector
Richard Battaglia
Publisher
Patricia Schaefer
"His family should be caring for him, not 'executors'."
Ailaine Piper
"To free this man. He needs his dignity."
Chat Vela
Longtime Close Family Friend
"Freedom for Peter is paramount!"
Elayne Griffiths
"This is horrendous and so cruel."
Judi Smith
"No one should be held against their will."
Louise D'Amato
"It's the humane thing to do."
Kristin Lara
"This is late life abuse."
Skye Swan
Family Friend
"No one should be in forced isolation, this is beyond cruel."
Daniel White
Friend and employee for 16 years
"Please help right this wrong."
Jessica Voorsanger
Friend, Artist
"This is a horrible way to end your life. Peter Max should have had his own wishes honored and be allowed to live out his life surrounded bu his family and friends "
Ariyana Gibbon
Peter's friend since the 1980's, "I wish you the best in freeing your father."
Esther Hughes
"A man of his age and stature should not be denied access to his family."
Ravel Petershagen
"Standing against evil."
Quinn Mason
Artist
"Peter has always been one of my biggest art influences and I was appalled to learn about this conservatorship. No one deserves such an injustice."
Lorraine Taylor
Mother of lifelong friend died under exploitive guardianship
Joanne Dorian
Alzheimer's Association Advocate
"So sad that this gifted artist is being made to endure this isolation at the end of his life when he has brought joy to so many with his vibrant art."
Al Parinello
Owner, Surflight Theatre, Friend Since 1983, Collector of Peter Max Art
"We need to protect this lovely man."
Maya Peterpaul
Family Friend, Artist
"Peter deserves to be treated with kindness and care."
Joseph Kleineman
Friend and Collaborator since 1970, Master Printmaker, JK Fine Art
Natalie Stemper
"Fighting for this family to see justice."
Sandra Urfer
"End Conservatorship Abuse."
Maria Lorna Azul Kunnath
Entrepreneur
"Advocating the End of Conservatorships."
Lisa McWilliams
"He painted all of the fallen firefighters from sept. 11 2001 one which of whom I lost personally I knew his artwork as a child. This is not okay. I was a NYC paramedic - we need people to live in peace and not be taken advantage of."
Martin Rowe
"Peter Max deserves to be able to spend his final years in the company of his children. This exploitation is all-too-common and wrong."
Leah Ostojic
"No one should be owned and controlled, this is elder abuse."
Valerie Cantone
"I'm Against Cruelty to the Elderly."
Laura Yanne
"...I know how lonely and scared an elderly person can be. I hate that this is happening."
Susie V Kaufman
Human Rights Activist
"I am a nearly lifelong animal- and human-rights activist.... AND a friend of Libra Max's"
Chase Warman
"Because I don't believe should have their rights stripped from them for the financial benefit of strangers."
Susan Wolz
"Common sense and compassion are needed now!"
Susan Sullivan
"Please free Peter Max from the captivity."
Rachel Cree-Lowe
"Peter is a gift. His treatment is barbaric and exploitative."
Michael Shorr
"Loved Peter's art as a child and am saddened to hear of his isolation. This seems terribly wrong."
Chelsey Ng
"This is an abuse of power. Loved ones deserve to be together in their final chapter."
Snita Gogolla
"In solidarity with Peter and his family."
Kimberly White
"Reading this broke my heart. Greed kills."
Nicola Gray
"Disgusting inhumane treatment of any individual regardless of class or status. Clearly a set up for theft, greed and fraud, cloaked under the deceitful illusion of care and protection of the client."
Larry Rott
"As a caregiver I've seen guardianship abuse most always for financial gain of the guardian. So very sad for Libra and her father."
Geralyn Lambou
Father under abusive guardianship
Erica Reiss Lasowitz
Peter was my father’s best friend in the 60s
Jane Robinson
"Exploitative guardianship is cruel."
Marla Zahn
Mother isolated for 3 years under abusive guardianship
Roy LaPlante
"Time to show some compassion, Free Peter."