Filis Frederick was Born in New York on May 31, 1915. She attended Radcliffe College and Cornell University. In her early career, Filis worked in New York as a writer for Vogue and various advertising agencies. Then, in the 1950's, she turned her talents to toy design and was the first to develop the well-known paint-by-number sets.
She heard of Meher Baba in 1943 and was invited to live with Norina Matchabelli, Elizabeth Patterson and Nadine Tolstoy, three of His early disciples. During that time, Filis often travelled from New York to Myrtle Beach with the women to help prepare the Meher Spiritual Center. When Baba visited in 1952, Filis met Him there. She also travelled to Myrtle Beach again in 1956 and 1958 to see Meher Baba and to be with Him on His tours in the U.S. In 1962, Filis attended the East-West Gathering in India. She kept a detailed account of all her encounters with Meher Baba, which she published through the years in The Awakener Magazine, first printed in 1953.
In 1961, Filis moved to Los Angeles to work as a toy designer for the Mattel Toy Company; she enjoyed a successful career there for fifteen years. Soon after coming to California, she began offering public talks about Meher Baba, including radio and TV interviews. As interest in Baba spread, Filis found herself at the nucleus of a small group that met regularly to focus on Him. With Filis' guidance, this group incorporated the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California in 1974.
Filis was instrumental in organizing the Annual Silence Day Sahavas--giving people from all over the country an opportunity to meet and hear about Meher Baba. She was invited to speak about her experiences with Meher Baba throughout the United States and Australia.
Filis was Baba's. She was in love with Meher Baba and she did her best to please her Beloved. She was a constant reminder to us of His love because of her love for Him. "Somehow, like a stray pebble, I got into His sandal," she wrote in 1953. And, once there, she took her good fortune seriously. Filis worked at giving Baba her best, and at helping her friends--without ever preaching--to do the same.
Her work on The Awakener, her founding of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California, her Monday night meetings, her Sahavas work, her poetry--all these accomplishments reflect her love grandly. But the "little" things, the attention she gave us on a daily basis, are the things that will keep her alive in our hearts: "Sweetheart, how are you?" she'd say when you called, making you feel as though she'd been waiting all day to hear your voice; she'd tell you a personal Baba story; she'd ask to hear all about your latest project. Filis made you feel like her best friend.
She saw the good points of others, she didn't dwell on weaknesses--and so she brought the best out in people. At once relaxed and awake, Filis was always refreshing to be with. Her light sweetness and generous nature drew people to her like a magnet. (How much more magnetic her Beloved must have been to inspire that in her! And how generous of her to offer us that comparison!)
Filis was talented, artistic and practical. She knew how to live in the midst of Maya. ("To live in the world but not of it," as Baba said.) One of her great gifts to people was her interest in having them take responsibility for their lives--to become adults. She encouraged people to live up to their potential, and laughed about playing Maya's game while clinging to Baba's daman. Filis, a sensitive poet, taught us how to look beyond the personal and strive for the common good of the group--as only a mother can do, because of love.
In one of their first meetings, Baba said to Filis: "Inscribe these words in your heart: Nothing is real but God. Nothing matters but love for God." She never forgot. Filis lived her life loving Him. PHOTOGRAPH