Susanne

“Spectacular” This girl was our life, as well as our son James and his wife, Heather and two children, Grace and Hudson are.

Susanne was a love. She had a spirit of gold, a smile that would warm a room, and a laugh that was infectious. She was a dog person, and she loved to go to the dog park with her two year old female malamute, Neah.
She called her mother and me every day. She was a lover of life, a mountain climber, trekker, runner, cyclist, and swimmer. She loved to run, bike and swim to raise money for charities. She had the gift of making friends, cherishing friendships, and doing little acts of kindness.

She had only been married 2 1/2 years to a wonderful man, Tony Scaringi, a high school science teacher at Mercer Island High School.

She is not gone. She has only just left on a long bike ride and we will have to wait patiently to see her again.

The apostle Paul said in his letter to the Colossians, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Now we have a heavenly thing to look forward to seeing again, one who will usher us in on that great and beautiful day.

Susanne’s inspiration was Rosie the Riveter; she had a collection of things with this logo which was her motto including her bike jersey and her climbing helmet.

Susanne’s Grandfather, Lloyd J. Neil, joined her in eternity on January 15th, 2007, one month and four days before his 80th birthday. She loved her Poppi, so much and we know she was so happy to see him. My Dad was quite a man, I will miss him terribly until we are together again for all eternity.

On the morning of his memorial service, 1/27/07, I was attending a meeting that Saturday morning in Tacoma. Just before 8:00am, I arrived at my meeting at the Landmark Convention Center. As I walked past these glass doors I noticed a little wren had struck the doors and was laying dead on the ground.

I reached down and picked it up, but it fluttered in my hand. He was bright eyed and I carefully took him and placed him on the window ledge. As I walked away I thought how I wished I could have done that for Susanne. Not until I was sitting in the meeting did I realized it was the 27th exactly four months from the day Susanne died, but it was just before 8 o-clock which was when the accident had occurred. For the last two months I have had on my desk a sparrow on a branch. The scripture says that not one small sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. That bird was not Susanne, let’s be clear, but that was a sign from God who said, Susanne is alive. That is just how God speaks if we have the ears to hear.

A man should strive to the uttermost of his life’s set prize.

A quote from the book Susanne gave her father on his birthday, just ten days before the tragedy.

If you would like to honor Susanne’s memory please consider donating in her name to the Charteris Foundation