Growing up, Julie Kelly was like a third sister to her best friends, identical twins Cathy Pfeifer and Jeannette Ekstrand. The trio went to high school together in suburban Chicago. While attending Indiana University for her BS in finance, Kelly lived with Pfeifer during her first two years, and the two frequently roadtripped to Miami University to visit Ekstrand.

Cathy eventually married David Pfeifer, the current chair of AFTD’s Board. Then Kelly married — both twins were bridesmaids in her wedding — and moved to Philadelphia, while Pfeifer and Ekstrand moved to Denver. The trio kept in contact over the years, though in time, Kelly noticed something different about Pfeifer.

“I noticed a change in Cathy’s personality, but I thought we had just grown distant; we were raising kids and working, we were busy.” Kelly said. “After I first began to notice signs that something was wrong, David called me and told me that Cathy had been diagnosed with FTD.”

Ekstrand was subsequently diagnosed with FTD as well. Pfeifer died in 2016, two years after her diagnosis; Ekstrand died two years later.

“When they passed, it caught all of us by surprise because they were so young and vibrant,” said Kelly. “I think of them every day. I miss them.”

After her friends died of FTD, Kelly felt an urge to somehow make a difference. An invitation from David Pfeifer to join the AFTD Board’s Investment Subcommittee gave her the chance to give back. After two years of serving on the subcommittee, she is set to join AFTD’s Board in May.

Serving on the board helps to keep “Cathy and Jeannette’s memory alive,” Kelly said. “Let’s try to solve this riddle called FTD; let’s get families the help they need and work towards a cure in our lifetime.”

As a Board member, Kelly hopes to support AFTD’s efforts to expand its outreach to medical professionals, lawmakers, and the general public. She notes that FTD isn’t going away on its own, and there needs to be ongoing support for FTD research, advocacy, and education. As a financial advisor with 28 years of experience in wealth management, Kelly also brings expertise on personal wealth, running a business, balancing finances, and more.

“Our heart is with everyone who is suffering from this horrible disease, and we’re trying to make it better,” Kelly said. “We’re hoping what we’re working on will allow us to have FTD behind us in the future.”