A master of business and pleasure

Deepa Bharath

Suzanne Lindsey took her last breath traveling.

To those who knew Suzanne, it made sense. Her collection of

itineraries was like a map of the world. To them, it was easier to

list the number of countries Suzanne had not visited.

And when she went to a country, she didn’t stick with tourist

groups or chatty tour guides.

Suzanne was an explorer with an innate curiosity and a passion to

absorb everything she wanted to absorb.

She brought home mementos from her travels -- many, many figurines

and more than a few ceremonial tribal costumes.

She died on Jan. 13 after a bout of pneumonia on her last trip to

Israel to participate in a peace march. Suzanne had to cut it short

because of her illness. Her condition worsened, and she died during

the flight home.

Her death, at age 81, was a shock to her friends, because age

couldn’t catch up with Suzanne. She was too smart, too active and too

full of energy to let go of herself and her life.

She was a sharp and successful businesswoman who had invested in

real estate since she was a student. While others in her class were

looking to rent homes, Suzanne pulled together a few of the girls and

bought a home, which she ended up renting to them. That was her first

piece of property, and it only grew from there.

But that only supplemented her real job. For most of her life,

Suzanne taught languages. During the ‘60s, she taught foreign

languages at elementary, junior high and high schools in Los Angeles.

From the ‘70s until 1993, when she retired, Suzanne taught at Orange

Coast College.

She was a frequent visitor to Oasis Senior Center, where she

joined the travel club and shared her memories and experiences. She

was a citizen of the world. She would always talk about the best

restaurant in Paris, or her favorite hotel, or a shop here or an

attraction there.

Suzanne always scratched the surface and then some when she

visited places. She was never satisfied just looking at people or

buildings. She always talked to people and loved to learn about their

culture, customs and traditions.

Suzanne came to the United States in 1947 as a war bride. She met

her first husband, a United States service man, in Italy during World

War II.

The couple moved to Chicago, where she saw snow for the first

time. While that experience was thrilling, Suzanne found the cold,

windy weather too extreme. They moved to Seattle, where she worked as

head of merchandising for the Bon Marche department store. In 1958,

they moved to California and she earned a bachelor’s degree at Cal

State L.A.

She married David Lindsey after her first husband died. Suzanne

and David were married for 21 years, until he too passed away.

Suzanne was as shrewd a businesswoman as she was a dedicated

teacher. She was two different people. As a friend, she was loving

and caring. She remembered birthdays like no one could.

But when you were on the other end of the table during a

transaction, Suzanne was all business. She had amazing negotiating

skills.

No deal was too tough and no problem too big to handle -- in

business and in life.