Former Council President Remembered As Guiding Light In Newtown Boro

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Newtown Borough Council at its meeting on Nov. 9 remembered former Council President Susan E. Turner by dedicating a page in the borough’s minute book in her memory.

Turner was appointed in January as council president and served in that capacity until resigning from council in August due to health issues. She passed away on Nov. 6 at the age of 68 after a short illness.

Turner served on council from January 2020 to August 2022. She had been a member of several borough committees during that time including budget and finance, Historical Architectural Review Board, Historic Commission, streets, lights and property and the fire services committee.

A nine year borough resident, Turner was a retired chemical engineer. She was married to her husband, Doug, for 50 years. The couple celebrated their golden anniversary in September.

“Her dedicated service to the Newtown community will be missed,” said Council President Tara Grunde-McLaughlin. “The page included in the minutes reads as follows, ‘In memory of Susan E. Turner, 1953 to 2022. And in her passing, Newtown Borough remembers a community leader, friend and wife.’”

Earlier this year Turner was part of a borough team that successfully negotiated a fire services agreement with neighboring Newtown Township.

“She brought to the table her engineering skills and a background in compliance and through that lens she was able to do things like update policies and procedures and improve things. She really did so much here,” said Grunde-McLaughlin.

Dennis Fisher, the chairman of the Newtown Township board of supervisors and a member of the fire services negotiating team for the township, remembered Turner at the start of the Nov. 9 board of supervisors meeting. He led the gathering in a moment of silence in memory of the former council president.

“Sue was my kind of woman,” said Newtown Borough Councilor Emily Heinz. “She was incredibly intelligent and kind, but still firm - she didn't take nonsense from anyone. I admired that about her.

“She was an extremely supportive leader and volunteered a great deal of time helping me acclimate to being on borough council and getting me up-to-speed,” continued Heinz. “Her presence is deeply missed on council and throughout the borough, and I'm very glad that I got to know her … even if just for a short time."

Beyond her work in the borough, Turner was known for her baking skills and as a gracious hostess. Prior to the pandemic, she often hosted neighborhood gatherings at her home, which spotlighted her baking skills.

Turner ran her own business, Green Frog Bakery, whipping up cakes, pies, torts, granola and other baked goods. Her neighbors and friends kept her busy filling orders.

Borough secretary Judi Musto not only worked closely with Turner on borough business, they were also neighbors.

“Sue was a very strong leader. What impressed me the most was watching her tackle some very challenging negotiations, watching her facilitating the finalization of the Newtown Fire Services agreement. She was very pragmatic and very strong in her decision making.”

Musto also described Sue and her husband, Doug, as a “sweet, sweet couple. They were so adorable together. It was a beautiful match,” she said.

“Losing her really hurt,” said Councilor Bob Szwajkos who was another neighbor and colleague. In 2019 he campaigned successfully with Turner for two open seats on council.

The first two years on council laid the groundwork for Turner to become council president in 2022.

“Susan was the magic. She aligned the stars,” said Szwajkos. “She was a very, very strong leader in a very calm manner. She was humble - no flares, no rallies.

“Under her leadership, we reached out and asked the questions, ‘What do you think we should be doing and how do you think we should do it?’ This council improved so many ways we do things and the impact of community involvement to make it a better, safer place.”

Starting in June and July, Szwajkos said you could see Turner wasn’t feeling well. “She sent out her letter and resigned from council after the August council meeting and I never heard from her again.

“When I got the phone call from a neighbor that she had passed, it was like someone whacked me in the head with a frying pan because she was such a good person. And respected by everybody. “She was a quiet, effective leader,” said Szwajkos. “She used to run factories. She knew how to run things. She was very, very smart and moved up the ladder to greater and greater management responsibilities. She was the quality assurance person. And she brought that to her role on council.”

According to Szwajkos, next spring Council is planning to remember Turner “as our guiding light” with the planting and dedication of a memorial tree in her memory.

“It’s a living memorial rather than a plaque that gathers dust someplace. It can watch over us and the borough like Susan did,” said Szwajkos.