The story of Eddie D: Our Predecessors

In this special episode of Voices of Recovery, we close out August’s “Our Predecessors” series with the remarkable story of Eddie D—one of the founding members of Narcotics Anonymous in New York. Eddie’s life is a living history of service, resilience, and hope, as he marks nearly 45 years clean alongside his wife, Meryl.Growing up in Queens, Eddie fell into alcohol at a young age, just like many of his peers. But his disease quickly progressed into harder drugs, until he found himself alone—his support system gone, family ties broken, and all his bridges burned. Everything changed when his sponsor got clean and brought him to an meeting.In the early 1980s, when drugs and alcohol flooded the streets of New York, recovery spaces were only just beginning to form. Before NA had a foothold, addicts often gathered in cross-addicted meetings like “Both Sides of the Coin”, where alcoholics and drug addicts came together under one roof. Eddie was there, attending those meetings, taking commitments at the group level, and learning what it meant to stay clean one day at a time. An influx of drug addicts into AA made the need for a separate fellowship clear, and trusted servants like Terry in Queens and Henry in the Bronx created the first NA meetings in New York. Eddie was present in those fragile beginnings, building his own foundation for recovery with only a few months clean.Since then, Eddie has devoted his life to staying clean and giving back. With nearly 45 years clean, he is a steady presence in day meetings, watching newcomers find their footing just as he once did. His journey has not been without trials—most painfully, the relapse of his beloved wife Meryl during her battle with a yet-undiagnosed illness. That struggle tested his marriage and his recovery, but through surrender and honesty, Meryl found her way back. Today, over two decades later, they walk this path together, clean and committed to the fellowship that saved their lives.Eddie’s story is one of vision, faith, and endurance—from the early days of NA in New York to living proof that recovery is possible for decades, through every test and trial. A story of showing up, of service at the group level, and of staying anchored in meetings through every high and low. His life is a testament to the truth that recovery is built in the rooms, one day and one commitment at a time.