Susan Marilyn Smith

Susan Marilyn Smith passed on November 29, 2024. Sue was born on January 8, 1946, in Salem, Ohio. Sue had an idyllic childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, raised by the late Melvin and Naomi Smigel. Sue enjoyed music, television, and film as a child, and was a big fan of Annette Funicello. She attended live tapings of “The Mickey Mouse Club” and “American Bandstand.” Sue graduated from The Rayen School, then attended The Ohio State University and UCLA. Sue’s first marriage found her living in North Dakota and Minnesota before settling in Costa Mesa, California, where she dove into motherhood and volunteering.

“A Woman of Valor, more precious than pearls… Her deeds speak her praise.”

Sue was raised Jewish and was active in B’nai B’rith in her youth. Judaism played a strong role in the way she lived her life. Sue believed in Tikkun Olam: “Repairing the World.” She believed in repairing the world through action, be it social, educational, culinary, environmental, personal or spiritual. Sue Smith was a helper and a giver.

Working for the National Conference for Community and Justice, she developed KSR: Knowledge and Social Responsibility, a program for teens. She co-created and operated the Orange County House of Worship Tour with NCCJ, later reviving it until the pandemic. Sue co-led two interfaith trips to the Middle East. Working with her daughter, Sue volunteered with the Orange County Anne Frank Organizing Committee. Through these activities Sue met Miep Gies, and took Anne Frank’s two best friends to Disneyland.

Motherhood led Sue to improve upon the cooking skills her mother imparted, including cooking classes and becoming an avid student of cookbooks. Sue became so well known for her cooking that she was organizing a cookbook to publish when she passed, which her family will complete. Motherhood also led Sue to volunteering with PTA, where she discovered her passion for education. Sue moved up the ranks of PTA until the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation hired her. It was here Sue was offered the opportunity to create the Costa Mesa, California, USA – Wyndham, Victoria, Australia Sister City Education Exchange Program. This life-changing program swapped high school students and teachers twice a year between the two Sister Cities for twenty years.

A passionate music fan, Sue was impacted by the folk music movement, which led her to discover favorites such as Kris Kristofferson and John Denver. John Denver introduced her to environmentalism and Aspen, where she participated in an international community through John Denver’s Windstar Foundation. Sue loved to travel! She went on musical pub tours of Ireland, visited the UK and The Netherlands, New Zealand, five trips to Australia as a chaperone to teens, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, train trips and road trips across America, Las Vegas and her favorite Bermuda.

Recent years found Sue focusing on her passion for film by volunteering for the Newport Beach Film Festival, ultimately becoming the Director of Venue Coordinators. Sue maintained a global network of friends and colleagues. Sue enjoyed photography, art, virtual international tours and cooking shows, trying new recipes and gardening. Sue was an avid reader and fan of puzzles. She loved her son’s music and her daughter’s poetry. She was so proud of her granddaughters.

“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” Sue was preceded in death twenty years ago by her soul mate, Dr. Louis H. Smith, with whom she shared a beautiful marriage. Sue is survived by her son, Scott Freeman, and her daughter, Daphne Lisa Grant, by whom she has grandchildren in Heaven, her daughter-in-law Jennifer Cloney, and her granddaughters, Mia Smith, Madison Smith, and Isabella Smith.

A chapel memorial for Susan will be held Friday, January 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Mortuary & Memorial Park, 1625 Gisler Ave, Costa Mesa, California 92626, followed by an inurnment at 11:00 AM.