Suzanne Eldridge McKean of Boca Grande and Castine, Maine, passed away Feb. 1 after a valiant battle with cancer. McKean, known to friends as Sussie, was born in Harrisburg, Pa. on Jan. 23, 1932.
She leaves behind her husband of 54 years, Frank (Skip) McKean, and three daughters, Meg Taylor (Dick) of Albany, N.Y., Lindsay Scott (Phil) of Maplewood, N.J., and Mason Hoeller (John) of Basking Ridge, N.J. In addition she is survived by a sister, Ginger McNeese of Lexington, Va., and 11 grandchildren who lovingly know her as Nanny: Alex, Greer and Hildy Schott; Monica and Nicholas Taylor; Charlotte, Ned, Henry and Mimi Scott; and Peter and Ted Hoeller.
A graduate of Skidmore College, Sussie moved to Fox Chapel in Pittsburgh as a bride in 1955. She and Skip have been residents of Boca Grande since 1986, and have divided their year between Boca Grande and Castine since 1995.
As a volunteer, no job was too big or too small for Sussie's skilled attention and she raised countless dollars that benefited these communities. She was president of the Junior League of Pittsburgh from 1972-1974.
In recent years she was president of the Boca Grande Woman's Club and was also chair of the Woman's Club annual gala, silent auction for the gala and Woman's Club annual fair. While president of the Women's Club, she was instrumental in getting approval for the Island School in Boca Grande. Sussie was on the Castine Golf Club Board of Director and chair of the Women's Committee. Under her leadership, the Castine Golf Club held its first auction in 2009, raising a record amount of funds for the Club.
A former tennis player and downhill skier, Sussie was an avid golfer. She was a member of Lemon Bay Golf Club, the Boca Grande Club, Useppa Island Club and the Castine Golf Club. Sussie was a collector of American antiques and a peerless and gracious hostess. She loved to travel and in recent years she and Skip visited Greece and South America. She was a devoted wife and mother and a wonderful and doting grandmother.
A service will be held in Boca Grande at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Crowninshield House, 131 Banyon St. There will also be a memorial service in Castine in early summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice (www.tidewell.org), St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (http://standrewsbocagrande.org/) or Trinity Episcopal Church (http://www.trinitychurchcastine.org/).
