Susan Patricia Cronin

Susan Patricia Cronin Susan Patricia Cronin of Falls Church, VA died on August 17, 2015, of pancreatic cancer. Susan was born on November 4, 1944, in Queens, New York, the eldest of eight children of Walter and Della Relling. They moved their growing family to Hicksville (Long Island), New York where Susan graduated from Hicksville High School. She earned a New York State Regents Scholarship and graduated from Ladycliff Catholic College for Women in Highland Falls, New York, in 1966 with a BA in history and a minor in art. She married Second Lieutenant (USA) Daniel F. Cronin on September 29, 1967, at Holy Family Church in Hicksville, New York. She moved with her new husband to Colorado Springs and remained there until he was deployed to Vietnam in 1968. Upon his return, they moved to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where their two children, Della and Dan, were born. The foursome kept moving—Fort Benning, Georgia; Seoul, Korea; Norfolk, Virginia; Ankara, Turkey; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Rabat, Morocco. They returned stateside in 1988 and settled in Falls Church, Virginia. During the family’s travels, Susan taught in public, private and international schools and universities, making good use of the MS in Education she earned at Columbus State University. After settling in Virginia, she was commissioned a Foreign Service Officer in 1989. Assignments included serving as a Consular Officer in Juarez, Mexico, Economic Officer at the US State Department, Economic Officer at the US Mission to the Organization of American States, Trade Negotiator at the US Trade Representative’s Office and Economic Officer to the National Security Council (NSC) staff. One of her career highlights was during her time with the NSC when she briefed Mrs. and President George W. Bush—the latter on Air Force One—on economic conditions in Argentina and Brazil in preparation for the President’s attendance at the Summit of the Americas in 2005. In 2007, she joined the Washington, DC, government relations office of Apple, Inc., and was senior manager for government relations in Latin America until she retired in 2013. Mrs. Cronin is survived by her husband of 47 years, Daniel F. Cronin (LTC, USA, Ret.), her children, Della Mangum (Robert) of Arlington, Virginia; Daniel (Stephanie) of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and grandchildren, Benjamin and Lauren Cronin, to whom she was lovingly devoted. She also leaves siblings Joseph Relling (Paula); Kate Relling (Mel Garskof); Walter Relling (Wendy); Laurie Relling (James Rennard); Avé Whitted; Mary Jager (George);Anthony Relling (Dorothy) and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. Susan was always a curious and informed person. She was also an avid fan and early adopter of many technologies—even before joining Apple. She maintained a lifelong interest in horses and developed into an accomplished rider herself, participating in numerous three-day events. In later years, she concentrated exclusively on dressage. Some of her most interesting moves included transporting her horse cross-country from Colorado to New York and once again from Washington State to Georgia. She continued pursuing her passion at stables in Korea, Turkey and Morocco. When her grandchildren came along, her focus—familiar to all who knew her—manifested into devotion to and nurturing of them. Susan will be remembered by all who knew her and the many who loved and appreciated her for her intellect, compassion, and straight forwardness—all fortified by an uncanny sense of humor. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m., to 4:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2015, at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. A Funeral Mass will be held at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 3304 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA on Monday, August 24, at 10:00 a.m.. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org). You may leave a condolence to the family at www.murphyfuneralhomes.com.