We have lost a friend. Please share your thoughts.
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
This entry was posted on June 2, 2009 at 11:30 pm and is filed under In Remebrance . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
June 2, 2009 at 6:02 pm
AS A MEDITATOR AND A YOGA PRACTITIONER I WOULD LIKE TO ALIGN MYSELF WITH ANY LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATION THAT IS TAKING UP WHERE SUSAN WAS AT THIS POINT IN HER LIFE.
BLESSINGS ,JERRY
June 3, 2009 at 7:13 am
Susan was worrying about injustice to the very end. She was talking about going to Haiti to help Haitian prisoners languishing in jail for years without ever going to trial. Even at the beautiful parties at her beautiful home, she would bring out a sense of purpose in people. She also knew how to have fun and would find delight in everything around her. She left the mark of her brilliance on many cases here – Judi Bari’s bombing and fighting Monsanto off of Measure H. She worked to counter a climate of hate around marijuana. She has defended women political prisoners. And she has protected women with her fierce defense of Inez Garcia. Thank you Susan
June 3, 2009 at 10:32 am
Susan and Ronnie were rock solid in helping me memorialize & celebrate my wife Christina, who died several months ago. May we all be as solid for Ronnie & Jennie . . . and each other! You’ll hear Susan’s voice in her phone call to me. After condolence, she shifted tone & began, “Here’s what we’ll do . . .”.
Flying with Susan in her Mooney was one of her many gifts to me. She was by far the most skilled private pilot I’ve flown with, and her radio voice was marvelous, as was her off-mike tartness “Come on, come on, where IS that wrong-way idiot?” Away from air traffic, she plain soared–”I love it up here. I’m never happier . . .” and the aircraft would gain extra lift from her rapture.
–There’s so much more, that the rest of us will fill in.
Cherish Ronnie and Jennifer!
June 3, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Susan and Ronnie were the best of next door Tomki Road neighbors for many happy years. It was always a pleasure to bump into them walking the dog and be enfolded in Susan’s warm intelligence, ready wit, and love for life. It amazed me to contrast that with Susan’s tough as nails courtroom persona, exemplified for me by her heroic defense of Measure H against Monsanto attorneys. Susan personifies the highest definition of a balanced being.
June 4, 2009 at 7:36 am
What a sad day! I first met Susan during the Inez Garcia case and have worked with her on several cases over the years. It was always a pleasure. She was a kind, courageous, dedicated, and highly professional lawyer, and a considerate and kind friend. My condolences to her family and colleagues.
June 4, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I met Susan in San Francisco in the mid 70s when we both lived in Bernal Heights and had the honor of serving on the Inez Garcia Defense Committee in 1977. I was a near neighbor of Susan’s in Mendocino County and was amazed by her incredible energy (maintaining life and work in Berkeley , San Francisco and Ukiah) and always impressed by her ongoing committment to social justice and civil rights issues. I will miss her love of life and her willingness to face adversity with passion and deliberance. I look forward to frequent fly overs!
June 6, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Thank You Susan for your enormous contribution to justice for the most oppressed. You came into Inez Garcia’s case and gave her a defense that allowed her the dignity that she desired and that she deserved. You defended me and 37 other protesters when we occupied the Calif. State Blg. Feb. 1975 to bring attention to Inez Garcias case. At that time Inez had been convicted of second degree murder for killing her rapist. You took the case over from Charles Garry (who used a traditional defense of diminished capacity- mental impairment .You fought and won her appeal on a womens right defense. But you won much more than Inez’s freedom you changed the publics view of rape and of rape victims. You were a part of a movement but that movement suceeded in no small part because of you, Camille Le Grand and other great women lawyers. Womens lifes are immeasurably better because of your work and inspiration. I think of all that won’t get done because you have left us too soon but what an incredible legacy you did leave. The world will miss you Susan. My condolences to her family. Shane Hoff Member of the Inez Garcia Defence Committee from 1974 untill Inez’s eventual release and vindication 3 years later.
June 7, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Marilyn Buck, an anti-racist activist in San Francisco, was one of Susan’s earliest clients. She is now a political prisoner in the Federal prison in Dublin, California, and Susan continued to help with her legal support until Susan’s death. Marilyn has asked us in the Friends of Marilyn Buck support group to convey her deepest sympathies to Susan’s family and friends. We join in that. Susan’s steady commitment to, and fearless defense of progressive activists has been a model of passionate lawyering. Her life remains a wonderful example.
June 8, 2009 at 8:02 am
Susan has been in my heart and mind since 1974 when she supported and defended me in Madison, Wisconsin where I had been subpoeaned to appear before a grand jury. At the time, Nixon was abusing grand juries to gather information on the anti war movement . Susan’s wholehearted embrace of me, my mother, the politics and the players in the case was reassuring and inspirational. Thanks to the humanity of the Judge, Susan’s lawyering ability and wonderful coaching, we won. The Judge decided in our favor and was the first Judge to rule that the Nixon Justice Department would have to give him a list of the categories of questions it wanted to ask the witness. Nixon did not want any limits placed on his power and the lawyers dropped the case. We were jubilant. As I said she has been in my heart all of these years and will contiinue to be. Her tragic death was on the same day as my father’s death, 9 years ago.
June 13, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I am seeking to carppool with anyone driving up to Ukiah from the Santa Rosa area. My phone number is 707 575-3093, or if busy, 707 481-7245.
Thanks, Molly
June 14, 2009 at 9:29 pm
There are those who, as Susan did, leave an indelible mark of human character on you within the short time you are able to share with them.
June 15, 2009 at 9:04 am
I first met Susan when she came forward to offer her services to defend Measure H against Monsanto et. al. Most recently she talked with me about her great interest in Buddhist meditation teachings and particularly the Surangama Sutra, to which she had been introduced by Norman Fischer. We mourn the loss of her brilliant light and great compassion.
June 15, 2009 at 11:48 am
I only met Susan once, at a meeting a few weeks before she died. I was so impressed with her common-sense approach. But I remember hearing about her work over many years, especially in the 1970′s when I was involved as a rape advocate and the Inez Garcia case happened. She literally changed how women who killed their rapists are seen. I am so sorry I never got to know her better.
June 15, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Prior to my move to The Klamath River I spent a fair amount of time with Susan, Ronnie and Jennifer. There are a few experiences that stand out in my mind: one is the day Susan asked me to fly from Ukiah to Covelo for lunch. It was Springtime and the landing strip was completely camouflaged with poppies and Lupine–I felt like a bumble bee landing on a snapdragon– it was a perfect landing she was such an excellent pilot. Another is my memory of Susan flying her family to Yalapa to join us for a vacation only days after her first jaw operation. Her jaw was completely wired shut but she managed to get tower clearance and drink through a straw. Susan was a most courageous and formidable force but she always had her faithful, beautiful golden Buddha R.C. and her wonderful daughter Jenny illuminating her path. With this trio I remember Susan best, together they were a shooting star moving through Space made up of Thunder, lightning, and Love. She made the world a better place for us all. Thank you Susan we will miss you.
June 17, 2009 at 9:24 am
An interview with Susan, recorded in April 1996, can be heard at http://www.radiocurious.org/2009/. Scroll down to it if is not the top one.
June 17, 2009 at 10:18 am
I knew of Susan’s ground-breaking litigation many years ago, as I was involved in founding a women’s shelter in San Francisco, and personally a survivor of violent trauma. Her voice was a phenomenal translation of women’s experience of violence and was part of a shift that gave rise to the views and lives of disenfranchised in the courtroom. Often, in my childhood growing up red, I felt the targeting of the right during the McCarthy period. But in 1986 when my mother was brutally raped and murdered, I became subject to the criminal justice system with no represenation. The DAs did not represent me and my mother, and I felt completely without witness and assistance. Susan was there – and helped me navigate an immensely painful time. She continued to support and guide me as I took as stand for humanity in an inhumane system (for everyone) and to mend the terrible loss in my life. She refused payment, joking that I could not even afford her electric bill. Throughout the years she extended her warmth and strength to me, and this has shaped me. I am honored to write that she changed how I view transformative justice, and my work with today with trauma survivors. I extend my deepest heartfelt care to her family and all of you who mourn her.
June 19, 2009 at 8:43 am
I connected with R.C. and Susan a short time ago at thier Rdwd Vly property. During this period thier intrests in me, along with thier shinning characters and epic views sparked creative flame that warms my heart and soul. Through these discoveries I felt our friendships to be ageless. After learning of her accomplishments I felt these two hiaku to be appropriate to her: Foxtial glade The finches weight
provides a volunteer supported by foxtail
for tired finch. takes new flight.
Lots-O-Love,
June 19, 2009 at 8:56 am
I connected with R.C and Susan a short tim ago at thier Rdwd Vly property. During this period thier intrests in me, along with thier shinning characters and epic views sparked creative flame that warms my heart and soul. throughthese discoveries I felt our friendships to be agless. After learning of her accomplishments I felt these two hiaku to be appropriate to her: Foxtail glade, provides a volunteer, for tired finch.
The finches weight, supported by foxtail, takes new flight. Lots-O-Love,
October 7, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I meet Susan and Ronnie last year as i had the pleasure of guiding them ion their trip to Patagonia in Chile.
In just a short stay i was struck with the amazing power and grace of these 2 amazing persons.
I am shocked to read the news.
I am in California now and would like to directly contact Ronnie, is there anyway of finding out his email, as I maybe traveling thru nortern california nad would love to share some time with Ronnie.
Thank you very much.
Godspeed. peace and happiness
Juan
October 7, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Hola Juan
Dame sus datos y les pasare a Ronnie. Viva Chile M!
Barry Vogel
curious@radiocurious.org
January 19, 2010 at 1:41 am
I just found out tonight that Susan was killed more than six months ago and I am heartbroken. She was such a generous person. I called her twice when friends were in desperate need and she was willing to help despite the fact that neither of them had money to pay her. The first time I called was back in 1972; Susan was recommended by a colleague in the National Lawyers Guild. My friend in need was in jail in a small town 150 miles northeast of San Francisco; it was a long way to travel for not one penny of pay. But Susan was willing to help anyway. She was kind and sympathetic, not just to my friend but to me as well. The next time I called Susan was 30 years later, when another friend needed help in a case that reminded me of the landmark Inez Garcia case that Susan so brilliantly argued and won. I just wanted to ask a question, but Susan offered to call and consult with my friend directly, in case there was any way she might be able to help. She never mentioned a word about money; she simply rose to the occasion to see what she could do to help another human being. Those were the only two times I ever spoke with Susan. I didn’t even know her, but she was an important part of my life. I know she was fierce in court, but she was compassionate and kind to me. The world feels a little less safe without her in it. I will miss her.