totallyMERRI honor photo book - Suzanne

My favorite story about Suzanne is how one summer, I’m not
exactly sure when but perhaps around Junior High, our moms -- Georgia and
Ferne, who were by now great friends and Bridge buddies -- signed us up for
golf lessons. I’m really not sure whose idea it was but Suzanne was a friend
so I went along with it. I don’t remember ever *wanting* to learn how to play
golf though. The image that sticks out in my mind from this adventure is this:
Suzanne and I standing at the top of some slope and this overweight and aging
man pedantically trying to teach us how to swing the golf clubs. We talked and
laughed and had such a grand time while paying little attention to his efforts to
teach us. I hope we weren’t rude but he had the kind of annoying personality
that really set us middle school kids into peals of laughter. I remember trying to
swing at the ball whenever I was directed to do so and then quickly returning to
my hilarious good time with Suzanne. I still can see her gorgeous, and naughty
and infectious smile in front of me. We kept up with his lesson but never let
him or our complete disinterest in learning to golf diminish our good time and
merriment. — Ilona Sturm
My favorite story about Suzanne is about when she made a
construction site, dirt and all for David’s party. — Madelaine
For my Suzanne story there are so many it is pretty hard to filter
them down to one, but here goes. One summer, it was either in Florida or at my
parents’ place in Annapolis, I can’t remember specifically, Suzanne and I were
together and at the ocean. I’m pretty sure it was in Maryland. It was a sunny day
with a lot of wind. We looked out over the bay and saw some guys windsurfing.
I mentioned off hand, JUST FOR CONVERSATION, “Boy, that looks fun.” So,
my cousin, ever the fun loving person that she is, said “It sure does. Let’s do
it.” And before I knew what was happening, we were at a wind surfing school
getting fitted with life vests and boards. We had a quick 10 minute lesson and
apparently Suzanne felt we were pretty much ready to take on the ocean. The
jellyfish notwithstanding, I could barely stand up and catch the wind. She and I
were falling all over. It was HARD! I had to concentrate and focus all my energy
to get up on the board and sail around. I sucked. I was totally immersed in this
effort when I looked up to see how my cousin was doing. And there before my
eyes was Suzanne, standing upright, wind to her back, standing stiff as a board
and sailing out to sea. She was able to get up, but wasn’t able to TURN. So she
couldn’t change direction to sail back to shore. Off she went. I was pretty sure
she would disappear over the horizon. But she finally got the good sense to fall
off the board. If she hadn’t done that I am pretty sure she would have made it to
Bermuda by nightfall. — Todd
My favorite story about Suzanne is how she used to come into
my house and juggle the fresh fruit that my Mom would have in a bowl on
the table. I think my mother cringed every time she entered the house fearing
bruised fruit when she would miss! And, she would miss, and she would laugh!
I also remember a party at your parent’s house. Suzanne was all dressed up
and was wearing a necklace from a boyfriend, Jeff Perlstein, I think. I told
her that the necklace wasn’t fancy enough for the outfit. I think she did
change it but she wasn’t too happy about it. That would be the same night
that she had her own idea of how to help clean up the kitchen.....which
did not include dumping any drinks down the sink if you catch my drift!
And then there was the time she told me that the Son of Sam was Jeff Berkowitz’s
cousin. I could not believe that I was in the same room as a killer’s cousin
When Suzanne arrived at our 10 year high school reunion, she was dropping
papers all over the place. As she picked one up, she dropped another one. Before I
even saw her face I knew who she was just by the laugh. I remember telling her that
I could just picture her walking into a court room. She would be stumbling up the
aisle, dropping paperwork, while saying “Hold on Judge, I’m getting there.......”
While living in Texas, Suzanne called to tell me she would be in the area and
asked if we could get together. I picked her up and brought her home. I had told my
daughters that my friend was coming and that they would enjoy meeting her. That
was at least 13 years ago and my girls still talk about the fun friend who came to visit!
Good Memories! — Debbie Golden Farrell
There are too many to pick just one favorite story about Suzanne.
How about when she would get all the cottage mates together to sing with Bruce
playing the guitar? Or going for breakfast at the diner with the truckers at 2 am?
Or eating cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner because that is what she and
Pei bought for groceries? Or dueling over jigsaw puzzle pieces? There was the
time she and Pei dressed Ric for the Lewd and Lascivious party at Brandeis...
Actually, my favourite story of Suzanne is of her getting up at my wedding and
reading a poem she wrote about me to everyone. My husband, who had been
quite nervous, actually turned to me at that point, and grinning, said “That is
so you!” (about the poem). That broke the ice for him and a few others like my
Mum, and left me feeling loved. — Kerry-Ann da Costa (Grizzle)