we loved playing soccer together and she was the first one I knew who could crouch down pull he shorts aside and pea on the field. It was amazing......

she always had the best sense of humor--i miss her....

I walked into my assigned homeroom the first day as a newbie sophmore to Camelback High School. A pretty blonde with a great smile waved me to a chair next to her in the back of the room. The connection was instantaneous. Within a week Suzie had mainstreamed me into her group of welcoming friends. She even gave me a nickname that lasted forever: Sunni. That was the begining of a life-long friendship. She was and always will be my very best friend.  Her laughter, her talents & skills, her loving heart and a woman who lived life on her own terms were inspirational to me.  I gave my daughter her middle name, Susan.

Once she and Bob moved to Seattle, we didn't see each other for many years. Once we reconnected it was like no time had passed. Don and I enjoyed Bob, a prince of a guy. Over the following years we spent time with each other many times. When Bob was in the latter stages of Alzheimers, Suzie said something that became my own mantra when Don was diagnosed with ALZ.  "You can't ask WHY ME, WHY BOB? That is like wishing it on someone else. It is what it is."

A closing story that still makes me smile. A few years after both our dear husbands passed we took a river trip down the Danube. TIME was always relative to Suzie. We took bus trips at the stops along the way. We were always the last on the bus and the same couple sat in the front seat every time. Never rotated like people are supposed to do. One night I told Suzie I preferred not to be the last on the bus. So we got up extra early to be the first on the bus and take the coveted front seats.  We sat there like two cats waiting for our dish of milk. The look on the couples faces was priceless when they saw us. We tried not to smirk, but many of the other passengers boarding gave us a smile or a thumbs up. There was alway time for joy with Suzie. 

I love you dear Suzie and your wonderful family.  "Sunni" Maria Ort

I love Susan always. She was a kind and beautiful person and anyone that knew her was very fortunate. Her beautiful family is just a tremendous reflection of her devotion and love for them!

I know they will always have a strong sense of her presence everyday, though she has physically moved on.

I'm very grateful I had time to be with her and know her.