| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Retro |
Posted - 11/24/2011 : 8:42:01 PM
Those of us who play Hawaiian music here in the Pacific Northwest were deeply stunned and saddened to learn of the passing this week of one of our dear musical companions, Susy. She was undergoing treatment for cancer, but chose not to tell most of us about her battle.
She was a marvelous person, a musician to the depths of her soul, and one of those rare beings whose kindness seems to flow from an endless well.
As Momi said in another social-media platform, in this week of Thanksgiving: "I am thankful for SM who taught me you don't need to be born or raised in Hawai`i, or have Hawaiian lineage, to show and share aloha."
She posted to Taropatch only once, on 5/26/2008, to answer a question about the guitar she often played:
quote:
The guitar's name is Kai; the decoration is woodburned roses, vines and a sword; roses and sword are guilded. I bought him in a flea market store on the Oregon coast. He must have been done by a fisherman as he had a lot of sand in him(still has some) and smelled so badly of fish that my cat kept trying to climb into the sound hole! Kai is warped but loves slack key. (I guess that applies to me too.).
Susy
(Rondaleer)
Here is the photo that triggered the question about her guitar (Susy is on the left; her musical partner is our own wonderful neeej):
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kihoalukid |
Posted - 11/30/2011 : 3:16:57 PM
Dear sweet Susy, you will be sorely missed. Such a special person in so many aspects. Condolences to her family. |
| cwilson |
Posted - 11/29/2011 : 2:30:21 PM
Aloha 'oe Susy, she was at every camp that we have attended.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends.
Mary and Clsy
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| JeffC |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 1:52:04 PM
Last summer's AMC was the first time Susy had not been at a camp when I was there. Her absence could not go unnoticed. Although I seldom was in classes with her, I often shared meal tables (and sometimes cars) with Susy and Jean and have many fond memories of lively and irreverent stories. We have lost a wonderful spirit.
Aloha `oe, Susy. My best wishes to her family and to her intrepid travel partner, Jean. You have been much in my thoughts since I heard the news yesterday. |
| Ben |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 12:09:49 PM
To my misfortune, my path and Susy's seldom crossed at AMCs due to attending different sessions. I remember her Kai, though, and I remember with a huge smile her and Jean's performances during open mike nights. Especially "Oh, Mark!" (You had to be there.)
Jan and I send our deepest condolences to Susy's family and to Jean. |
| noeau |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 11:37:30 AM
I too will miss her. She liked my music and made me feel that it was all worth the effort to see her in the audience smiling and singing along. It was wonderful to have such a lover of Hawaiian music as a friend. |
| Earl |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 06:37:03 AM
So sad to hear this news. Deepest condolences to Susy's family and to Neej, from me and Alice.
One of the highlights of the AMC's that we attended was jamming ki hoalu with Susy and Jean when the classes were done for the day. We ran into Susy camping at the Old Time Fiddle Contest in Weiser, ID and continued the jams there. And we even made it over to WA once for one of the monthly kani's, for more fun. The great sadness of her passing is tempered some by these bright memories and wonderful moments of aloha.
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| slipry1 |
Posted - 11/27/2011 : 11:02:58 AM
It's maddening how many of my firends and acquaintances have passed in the last month: Steve Parker, a great friend and wonderful old time musician and compoeser of rags (I even hired him to work for me at Hughes aircraft in 1977), Jack Link, a co-conspirator in life anda hell of a fiddler - old time and sountry, Bob Grossman, a roommate at PSGW Winter Retreats, and now Susie. [sigh!]  |
| TerryLiberty |
Posted - 11/27/2011 : 04:36:08 AM
Jean:
My wife, Bonnie and I were very saddened to hear of Susy's passing. We only met her once at Cyril's recent visit but we were both delighted with her outgoing and enthusiastic nature. It must be an awful loss for those who were close to her.
Terry
Olympia, WA |
| thumbstruck |
Posted - 11/26/2011 : 6:49:33 PM
Susy always had a kind way and ready laughter. We will all miss her sorely. |
| hapakid |
Posted - 11/26/2011 : 5:53:25 PM
She was a wonderful lady and musical friend.
Jesse |
| Rich_Smith |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 10:20:28 AM
See the Joy! Susy loved to dance. I will miss her!
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| PuaLynn |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 09:44:21 AM
I was very saddened to read of Susy's passing. I was so lucky to be touched by her wit and aloha at my five+ years of AMC. My heart goes out to her family, to her special friend, Jean, and all of us who will miss her very much. |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 09:08:30 AM
I will miss Susy. It seems that so many of my friends are passing. She truly "had heart" [pointing to my heart]. |
| neeej |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 08:35:01 AM
Awww - you guys make me maka wai. I'm going to copy these posts to a document I'm creating for her husband & family. Mahalo all. |
| Tommy |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 07:15:38 AM
Such sad news, but as the sun streams through my window onto my desk I canʻt help but smile thinking of Susy and how she and Jean were always "up to something" that would crack the camp up. Jean-I am so sorry for your loss. Aloha. |
