Suzanne Coleman's Obituary
Suzanne Coleman passed away on August 23, 2019 at the age of 72 with her loving family at her side. Sue was born in Ohio to Mildred K. and Thomas F. Coleman. They moved to Palos Verdes, California where she became the eldest of four siblings: Tom, John, and Patti.
She graduated from Marymount High School where she enjoyed performing roles in theatrical musical productions like Oklahoma and Brigadoon. Sue completed her BA at Santa Clara University and then a Masters in Education from UC Berkeley. During her junior year of college she studied a year abroad at the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, Austria. Over the course of that year she spent every school break traveling with friends to over a dozen countries and taking ski lessons in addition.
In her early twenties she moved to Washington D.C. where she worked as an intern for US Senator Alan Cranston from California. Following that assignment she landed a job with the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division as a Paralegal. There she met her first husband Steve Passek, who was a Justice Department lawyer. Soon they transferred to the Civil Rights Division in San Francisco and settled in Noe Valley. Within a few years Sue made a career change obtaining her real estate license, selling real estate in the then booming Noe Valley area. Eventually they bought a house in Mill Valley.
Always smart, resourceful, and exuberant for life, even after a divorce, Susie moved to Skylark Apartments in Larkspur as the Assistant Manager. There she found her true calling in the healing arts, becoming first a massage therapist, then a certified Hypnotherapist and stress management consultant, and finally a Master Certified Coach (MCC). She became a published writer, workshop leader, spoke at numerous conferences locally and nationally, and trained coach therapists. She worked with entrepreneurs, people in career transition, and really began to specialize in adults with ADHD. Much of her practice with clients was done over the phone from her home office. Of her work she would say: “I am really helping people and I get to do it in my pajamas”.
During this period she met her husband Bob and settled in the Oakland Hills often taking relaxing trips to the Russian River where they built a dream vacation home in the redwoods. Together they enjoyed swimming, cooking and travel.
Susie is predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her loving husband Bob of 20 years, her brothers Tom and John, sister-in-laws Susan and Jodi, sister Patti, nephews Jason, Kyle, Michael, and John, niece Tara, stepdaughters Arin and Ilana, son-in-law Ben, daughter-in-law Zena, and four grandchildren, Gabi, Zeke, Jude, Sana and by Colin, Josie, and Charlie, her great nephews and great niece. .
There will be a Celebration of Life for Suzanne on September 28 at 10am at Chapel of the Chimes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Lung Association for lung cancer research.
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