Thanks very much to each of you who sent condolences after learning the sad news that my beloved partner Susan Curtin passed away after over thirty years together. For the past year we have been living in San Diego where she underwent treatments following a relapse of cancer after eight years in remission. Out of consideration for her clients, we had not been sharing her medical condition widely or the following obituary until now:

Susan Curtin, a gentle beacon of strength and advocacy,  died peacefully at home on June 20, 2023 surrounded by her pets and loved ones after a long courageous battle with lymphoma. Born on July 15, 1953,  Susan's 70-year journey on this earth was defined by her warm, kind personality and an unrelenting commitment to making the world a better place for everyone.

She is survived by her loving husband, David Zupan. Their shared vision of a just, equitable world served as the foundation for their union, nurturing a love profound, resilient, and inspirational to many. 

Other surviving family members include her brother, David Curtin, her daughter, Maya Shepherd,  her step-daughters:  Leita Dzubay,  Moira Zupan, Rachelle Zupan, and her grandchildren: Alex Dzubay, Amber Haslinger, Anthony Zupan, Cole Haslinger, Jonah Thompson, Sarah Dzubay and Teliyah Samura. Her father David Yarrow Curtin, her mother Constance Curtin O'Hara and her sister Jane Curtin predeceased Susan.

Born in Urbana, IL where she grew up and attended high school, Susan spent summers with her family at Montauk, NY and in Key Biscayne, FL where her beloved grandmother lived. She attended Knox College in IL and then OSU in Corvallis where she studied psychology and worked at the nearby Children's Farm Home. Eventually she moved to Eugene where she began a practice counseling,  met her partner David and completed her PhD in psychology in 1993. In 1995, Susan gave birth to Maya who joined David's family of older daughters Leita, Moira and Rachelle.

Throughout her life, Susan's greatest accomplishments revolved around helping her clients and family. Her dedication to their well-being was a testament to her large heart and unwavering spirit. To her clients and colleagues, she was more than a professional; she was a beacon of hope and support. To her family, she was a pillar of love and wisdom.

Her legacy is one marked by kindness and generosity. Susan taught those around her the importance of staying strong, focused, and committed when faced with adversity. She believed in the power of resilience and instilled this virtue in the hearts of those blessed to know her.

Susan was a passionate advocate for sustainable energy and electric vehicles. She saw the potential in these advancements to counter global warming and worked tirelessly to raise awareness and promote adoption. Additionally, her advocacy extended to women's rights, peace and justice. She viewed these causes not as separate entities, but as interconnected parts of a just society, and she committed her life to their advancement.

A Celebration of Life for Susan will be held on July 29, 2023, at 2 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene. Classical guitar music will be provided by David Roger and light refreshments will be served. Around  3 pm a short video about Susan will be shown followed by the optional sharing of memories and stories from family members and friends. We look forward to seeing you, but for those unable to physically attend, there will be live streaming on YouTube. (Please RSVP if you are interested in receiving a link).

As we gather to celebrate Susan, we will remember a woman who not only dreamed of a better world but worked relentlessly to make it a reality. Her spirit, her dedication, and her legacy will forever be an inspiration. We ask that instead of sending flowers, you donate to any of the following charities in her honor:

350 Organization - An international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all. Since late 2020, 350 Eugene has been working with Fossil Free Eugene, to build support and pass policy to mandate we equitably decarbonize our buildings..

Link: https://www.350eugene.org/don…

Eugene PeaceWorks - founded in 1981, this peace and justice organization now sponsors KEPW 97.3 FM, a community radio station in Eugene. David Z is on its board as was Susan at one time. EPW is currently collaborating with Encircle Films on national promotion and distribution of Norman Solomon’s new book "War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine." https://thenewpress.com/books…: https://kepw.org/support/http…

David W Oaks Irrevocable Trust - Help support Debra Nunez and her husband David who experienced an extreme accident in 2012 becoming a quadriplegic whose continued activist work on multiple issues is remarkable. https://davidwoaks.com/support

RootsAction - is an online initiative dedicated to galvanizing people who are committed to economic fairness, equal rights for all, civil liberties, environmental protection -- and defunding endless wars. Join their free alert list at rootsaction.orgLink: https://rootsaction.salsalabs…

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/susan-curtin/obituary/

Copy