Dr. Susan Farr Gabriele, a beloved mother, grandmother and sister passed away peacefully on November 6, 2023. Born on July 9, 1941, Susan exuded a spirit of intellectual prowess, vitality for life, wit, kindness and patience throughout her life. Her enduring optimism and warm heart left indelible impressions on those fortunate enough to have known her.

Susan is survived and loved by her son and daughter, Antony and Sylvie Gabriele, and grandsons Anthony and Maxim Mosavi who carry forward her legacy of intellectual integrity, love and compassion. She is also survived and loved by her siblings Linda, Richard, Carol, Julie and Cindy Farr, and her many nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Susan was the second child of Marjorie Anderson and Richard S. Farr. She was raised with her siblings in a home full of intellectual vigor, entrepreneurial drive and creative passion of which only Hollywood movies are made.

Her father founded Farr Company, a global, publicly-traded filtration system company based in El Segundo, California, and while most of her siblings choose math/science pursuits, Susan turned away from engineering and pursued a career in literature, language and education.

In 1962, she graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors of Arts. Her pursuit of academic and cultural enrichment led her to study in Paris, France. During a weekend getaway her life was forever changed. Susan met Guy Gabriele in Nice, France. In his natural chivalry, Guy “rescued” her from a newspaper stand debacle and they married in Los Angeles a few years later. They lived in Toulon, France and birthed two beautiful children, Antony and Sylvie. In 1969, they moved to Los Angeles to start a new life.

In 1975, she earned her Masters in French and a certificate in Language, Literacy & Learning. In 2002, she earned a PhD in Human Science focusing on Social and Institutional Change and studying the challenges of public education and systemic solutions at the district, school and classroom levels.

Susan was a highly regarded member in her academic and professional society. With 20+ years as a classroom teacher and leader in LAUSD inner city schools and 35+ years in educational reform, her accomplishments in the field of Education and Education Reform are many. 

In 1996, she founded GEMS (Gabriele Educational Materials and Systems) an educational materials and consulting company, which included her extensive catalog of educational materials, books, and workbooks, New Hope for Schools “Findings of a Teacher turned Detective”, (the culmination of her dissertation presented to a general audience) and consulting services promoting her “An Equal-Turn RoundTable” for classrooms and meetings in schools and workplaces designed to enhance learning, engagement, knowledge sharing, community spirit and performance.

She was also a professor of Systemic Leadership and Educational Research Methods at various Universities, and presented her RoundTable and Design for Educational Systems at various conferences. Lastly, she drafted and proposed a reform policy to the California Code of Education.

Not only was Susan highly regarded professionally, she was a treasured member of our local community. She was a proud and active member in 12 Step programs for over 30+ years, and well known in the academic, sport and social lives of her children and grandchildren as “Grandma Sue”, “Dr. Grandma” and “Graginator.” Everyone knew her, and how much she loved her children. The outpouring of warm memories of their experience of her has been moving. Her love and memories will continue to inspire us and will live on eternally in our hearts.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

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

Copy