Longtime victim advocate Miriam Fife dies
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Staff report
WARREN -- One of the Valley's first victim advocates, Miriam Fife, died Saturday at 86 years old, her daughter, Paula Fife Lazzari, shared on Facebook.
Fife worked as a victim advocate after her own 12-year-old son, Raymond Fife, was murdered Sept. 10, 1985.
"My sweet momma passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, surrounded by family after a short illness," Lazzari wrote. "She will be remembered as a tireless advocate, a devoted mother and grandmother, and a woman whose heart for others never wavered. ... She was fiercely loyal, honest and compassionate for others, which made her such a good friend and ally. We will miss her bright smile and laugh daily, and know her heart is happy being reunited with my dad, Raymond, and her other friends and family that passed before."
Raymond Fife was attacked by Danny Lee Hill, then 18, and then 17-year-old Timothy Combs while he was riding his bike on his way to a Boy Scouts meeting. Both were subsequently convicted.
Combs, a minor at the time, was not eligible for the death penalty, but died in prison in 2018 at age 50 while serving multiple life sentences. Hill remains on death row, and a legal battle to execute him is ongoing.
After the ensuing court proceedings following Raymond's murder, Miriam joined Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins' office to help others navigate unthinkable tragedies.
She told this newspaper in 2015 upon her retirement from the office, "After my son was murdered, I developed this connection to other victims. I kept getting contacted by people. They told me to be strong. They said if I could get through it, then they could do it."
Miriam also worked on the Rape Crisis Board and the Parents of Murdered Children organization.
After Miriam's retirement, Watkins said, "Some people make a career out of their job. Some find a way to make a difference. Miriam, in my opinion, is one in a million. She has opened her heart to every crime victim."
Lazzari said a small, private family service will be held at Miriam's request.