Suzanne F Goldsmith

Suzanne Frank Goldsmith passed away peacefully on April 3rd, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. Born on September 7, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Simon and Suzanne Seller Frank, she lived a life of dedicated service to the people of the Salt Lake community. Suzanne’s capacity for empathy knew no bounds, and her love for collaboration with others wanting to heal and repair our world drove her life.

She instilled her uncommon poise and grace in her four children and nine grandchildren who filled her life with light and her heart with joy. In turn, Suzanne was the spiritual center and moral compass for her family. Deeply devoted to Lawrence Goldsmith, her loving husband of 62 years, the two formed a loving partnership that uplifted one another and everyone around them. She will forever remain a unifying force and inspiration.

From her earliest days Suzanne found opportunities to improve the lives of those in need. At the age of 13, she volunteered at Neighborhood House where she discovered her passion for helping underprivileged children. She later co-founded the Jewish Community Center’s Nursery School. In the mid-1960’s she worked with others to establish Salt Lake’s first Head Start Program. These experiences seeded her life-long pursuit of justice, care and her drive to ensure the dignity of others. As a volunteer at Holy Cross Hospital she saw the need to advocate for patients caught between the hardship and uncertainty of illness and the complexity of navigating the medical system. She became the first Director of Patient Relations and developed one of the first Patients’ Bill of Rights in the U.S.

Suzanne was born with a degenerative eye disease that ultimately robbed her of nearly all her sight, but never her vision. She founded the local chapter of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation and was a tireless volunteer with many organizations including Temple B’nai Israel Sisterhood, The Jewish Relief Society (now Jewish Family Service), Planned Parenthood, The McGillis School and Traveler’s Aid Society. In her work with Traveler’s Aid she helped develop the Road Home, Salt Lake’s shelter for people facing homelessness. Her work there with Maun Alston and Matt Minkevitch was some of the most meaningful work in her career.

Suzanne never sought attention for her work, but was recognized for her constant service. She received the Norma Matheson Award for Contributions to the local nonprofit sector. Other awards included the Community Service Award from Catholic Community Service and The Jewish Family Service for Assistance to Jews in Need. In 2014, she was honored as an “Inspiring Woman” by Jewish Family Services.

Suzanne’s grandparents, Arthur and Bertha Frank, immigrated to Utah in 1903. Along with her parents, they played a prominent role in building Salt Lake City. They operated a clothing store on Main Street called Arthur Frank, a fixture of downtown until the 1980’s.

Suzanne is survived by her husband Larry, and her adoring children Stephen (Riva), Douglas (Denise), Ann (Mark Schwarz) and David (Kara DiOrio), and her grandchildren Ben (Talia), Sam, Max and Joe Goldsmith, Abby and Jesse Schwarz, Joshua and Elizabeth Goldsmith, and Chloe Jones.

The family expresses their profound thanks to her caregivers who were true angels, and kept her safe and assured her dignity: Amber Rasmussen, Veronica Afonso, Fabiana Andrade, Sasha Thompson, Lais Carvalho and Rocky Mountain Hospice.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6th at Evans and Early Mortuary, 574 East 1st South. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to The Children’s Center, The Road Home, Planned Parenthood, The McGillis School, Moran Eye Center, or to the charity of your choice.