Evanston Obituary: Susan Greene

The following obituary is courtesy of Donnellan Family Funeral Services.

On May 22, 2015, Susan Greene died in the company of her beloved daughter Nicole after a brave battle with cancer. Susan was born on February 22, 1954 in Sherman, Texas, the oldest of three children of Mary and Earl Greene. Susan was raised by her mother to fight for social justice and she raised her daughter to do the same.

Susan grew up in Texas, where her family was active in civil rights struggles, often lonely endeavors at that time. Susan attended Antioch College in Ohio, a place where she discovered a community that remained a central part of her existence throughout her life. Her Antioch education brought Susan to internships around the country, including one with a civil rights law office in Jackson, Mississippi. In Chicago, she was the first female cable splicer, perched on top of telephone poles or climbing into manholes at a time when other women her age were studying feminism in books. From her earliest years, Susan approached life with intelligence, creativity and a fearless ability to confront injustice in any form.

Susan became a proud and loving single mother by choice, before it became popular to do so. In Evanston, Illinois, where Susan and Nicole lived for nearly twenty-five years, she became involved in many causes, most notably aligning herself with the African-American community in school board struggles to assure that the “tide lifted all boats.” Susan was actively involved in local and national political campaigns for progressive candidates. But assuring access to high quality health care services for all people was the cause of Susan’s life. She ran a community health center in one of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods. She assisted in launching initiatives to bring medical care to the inner cities of Houston and south central Los Angeles. Finally, as the capstone of her life’s work, Susan led the effort to put in place a plan that brought health care coverage to over 100,000 uninsured people in Cook County, more than a year before the nation instituted health care reform. Susan always kept her focus on the human beings that her efforts would benefit—and made sure that those she worked with maintained that focus as well.

Susan lived a very deliberate life. She strived to assure that she and Nicole would always have a strong and vibrant community of friends and she kept in touch with all of the many important persons in her life. Susan and Nicole went annually to tennis tournaments and had memorable and joyful adventures. Most Januarys she could be found doing her work while sitting in the sun in her favorite little town in Mexico, Sayulita. Before her illness, Susan was developing elaborate plans to stay connected to her daughter as Nicole embarked on her work in Africa. And she approached her illness with the same determination to take care of herself and Nicole while also bringing her friends along on the journey.

Susan is survived by her daughter Nicole, her mother Mary of Dallas, her father Earl of Karnack, her sister Sharon (Russell Ramirez) of Austin, her brother Doug (Sue Sawicki) of Geneva, Switzerland and nieces Eva, Rebecca and Claire and nephew Douglas. And Susan is also survived by scores of friends who loved her, were inspired by her and who made up her extended family.

There will be a memorial service for Susan’s family and friends at the Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge Avenue, on June 5th, 2015 at 1 pm, followed by a reception from 2:30-4:30. Susan asked that all donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to Antioch College, a place that she deeply loved.
Antioch College
Office of Advancement, One Morgan Place
Susan Greene Memorial Gift
The Fund for Antioch College
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387