obituary
A professional icon in acute care hospital administration, Suzanne graduated from Saint Olaf College with her BS in Nursing, and served at some of the top hospitals in the country including NYC’s Columbia Presbyterian and NYU, as well as Boston’s Massachusetts Hospital as Head Nurse, Neuro Intensive Care, and earned simultaneously her MBA, as among the first women admitted to Boston University’s hospital administration graduate degree program.
Subsequently in 1978, and for 18 years, she served Goddard Memorial Hospital, later Good Samaritan, in Stoughton and Brockton, MA as Vice President and Director of Nursing, while she was President, Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives (M.O.N.E.). This was followed by her nomination by the 5600 member American Organization of Nurse Executives (A.O.N.E.) as President Elect; AONE is a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Listed in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who of Professional Nursing Administration, and Who’s Who of America, Suzanne for 14 years served Poughkeepsie New York’s Saint Francis Hospital and Health Centers as both Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer, where her spirited and ubiquitous but always humble leadership-by-example complemented her memorable mentorings and sage counsel to many members of the hospital staff (doctors, nurses, and support staff) as well as her community. Her brilliant creativity was much like a New England early May apple blossom of subtle color, pervasive presence, and joyous bee-hum expectations.
After over a half-century in astonishingly admirable health care administration with angelic humanity and dedicated empathy to all, Suzanne retired after two years’ serving Boston’s Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital as Vice President of Nursing.
Inseparable for 42 years of daily bliss, living simple truths shared with stepchildren Elisabeth, Nathaniel, George (II), and Christian, Suzanne and George epitomized American poetess Emily Dickinson, “If ever two were one, then surely we…”.
Services of Celebration of Suzanne’s Life will be announced for May 2023, apple blossom season.
