Tribute in Memory of: Susie Smith
Posted November 28, 2017

Susie Smith

Dedication

During this time of thanks and giving, I'm raising money for Force MN: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (Minnesota Chapter). These funds are being raised in memory of my mother, Susie Smith, who passed away from BRCA related cancer in June 2017. Every little bit helps. Your donation will make a difference to provide resources and improve the lives of individuals, and families, in Minnesota affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Please contribute what your hearts and wallets will allow...$5, $10, $100, $500...all donations are appreciated. Thank you so much!

Personal Story

Susan Barenholtz Smith was born in St. Louis, MO. She grew up in New York City where she attended New Lincoln School, under the guidance of Columbia University's Teachers College. Her family moved to Princeton, NJ when she was a teenager. She attended Goddard College in Vermont where she met her husband of 53 years. Susie and her husband moved to Minnesota in 1962 and started Minnesota Summerhill School on Lake Minnetonka, which operated for approximately 10 years. Susie was an Open School and Montessori School Teaching Assistant in several Twin Cities schools. She loved living in Minnesota, the theater, creative arts, promoting children’s education, and volunteering at Children’s Hospitals & Clinics. Susie was an avid weaver and lifelong knitter, wonderful friend, proud mother and grandmother. She was selfless, kind and extremely generous in her actions. Susie inspired and touched the hearts of many through her courage, strength, caring nature and ever-present smile. Her friends often called her “An Angel without Wings”. She was a human rights activist, a 19-year breast cancer survivor, and an active member in the local groups FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), Chemo Chicks, and Handcrafters at First Christian Church in Minneapolis.