AWC Going Dutch Jan Feb 2020

Farewell to Suzanne MacNeil
by Georgia Regnault
Most of this article I wrote back in
2016 for the bi-monthly magazine of
Benoordenhout, but thought it might be
nice to publish it again in Going Dutch as we bid
farewell to Suzanne MacNeil. Suzanne has been
an ideal example of today’s expat woman: one who
follows the creed to bloom where they are planted.
Suzanne lived in Benoordenhout for the last seven
years, leaving behind a career in the US as a TV
news anchor, reporter, producer and host, as well
as jobs in the corporate field.
As part of her study of mass communication at
Florida State University in Tallahassee, Suzanne had an internship at a local TV station. After
being promoted to reporter, she was one of the first on the scene when Ted Bundy, a serial
killer, attacked five women at the university, leaving two of them dead. A move to West Palm
Beach gave Suzanne the opportunity to cover the Ted Bundy case as the trial was moved to
Miami. For those unfamiliar with this case, Bundy was an infamous serial rapist and murderer
who, in the mid-1970s had committed gruesome murders of more than 30 young women
from coast to coast. He was finally apprehended in Florida, and Suzanne was in the right spot
at the right time to cover the trial on a daily basis. In her words, “In those days, there could
be no spinning of the news, just diligent research.” After several years in West Palm Beach,
Suzanne was offered a position in Champaign, Illinois as a host of PM Magazine, a nationally
syndicated show whose ratings were the sixth highest in the country.
This company, much like Kringloop here, helps people who need work, don’t know how
to find a job, and need to learn new work skills. Suzanne told their stories in the company
magazine, on the internal TV network, and to the news people in the city. She was literally
the face of Goodwill to the outside world. Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee had 1,600
employees when Suzanne worked there, and she said it was the best job she had in her long
and varied career.
That all came to a halt when she remarried in 2012 and her husband, Tim, was asked if he
would become the European liaison for an American company that developed a therapeutic
solution for patients with mitral valve disease. Since Tim had worked in The Hague several
years previously, he felt this was the best city for them to settle in. Although Suzanne was
extremely happy with this turn of events, it also meant she had to reinvent herself.
And we all know, Suzanne did just that. Suzanne joined the AWC and took a course in mosaics
at the American School. So intrigued by this new hobby, she built an atelier in her home
and took courses all over Europe to learn to work with various materials. She continued to use
her communication and writing skills while here and started working with several American
companies as a copy editor for teaching modules for nurses and also researching material for
a documentary that will be produced in California. Many of these skills Suzanne continued
to use in her positions as Editor of this magazine and President of the Club. I also can’t fail to
mention her many contacts who have visited the Club and shared their experiences. AWC of
The Hague will miss her gracious personality and her conscientious work for the Members.
Back in 2016, Suzanne closed our interview with a genuine promotion for The Hague, “I love
living here and made many friends: Dutch, American, Canadian and European. The lifestyle
suits me. The people are gracious. Never lost for something to keep me busy. Travelling is
easy. So much to explore.” I believe she still thinks this today and leaves with a heavy heart.
Suzanne, make sure you come back and visit.
Marrying soon after that to a university basketball coach, they consequently moved every
three or four years. In each place Suzanne found a new niche in the TV news world. She went
into writing and producing for TV, which included a cooking show that aired on HGTV, shows
that touched on social issues, and a documentary on how children of cancer patients deal with
their parent’s illness. This last production was nominated for an Emmy, the highest award a
TV show can win in the US.
In Nashville, Tennessee
Suzanne found herself a single
mom and in need of stable
work to enable her to raise her
two sons. She joined Nissan
America in their corporate office
in the internal communications
department. This involved
producing the company newsletter
and news programs for
employees. The urge to return
to her roots and work on social
issues made Suzanne decide to
leave Nissan when a job opportunity
opened at Goodwill
Industries of Middle Tennessee.
26 GOING DUTCH
DECEMBER 2019 27