Susan Lee Fuchs

Susan was born on March 28, 1942 to Dorothea and Raphael Meisels in New York City. She is survived by her daughter, Samantha, her grandchildren, Billy and Emma, her son-in-law, Jeffrey and her sister, Toni and brother-in-law Carl.

She received two Master’s Degrees in Education and for decades she was a NYC public school teacher. The last two decades of her career, she taught the Talented and Gifted Kindergarten (TAG) program at a school in Spanish Harlem. She was more than just a teacher to many of her students and stayed involved with them, continuing as a mentor and a friend to these students and their families.

Unsurprisingly, she won teacher of the year honors on several occasions. She helped support the TAG program and fiercely fought to protect the program and advocate for her students. She was fully dedicated to education - particularly of younger elementary school children - and brought that dedication to every aspect of her life.

When she became a grandmother, she joyfully shared her dedication with them. She brought them to museums, NYC culture centers and to shows, events and restaurants, sharing her love of New York City and upstate New York with them. She had a closet full of children’s books and shared these with Billy and Emma, helping inspire them to pursue learning.

Susan’s father was a well known and respected veterinarian and Susan inherited his love for animals. She was an avid horse rider when she was younger, participating in various competitions like steeplechase. She was “mom” to many cats over the years and took over care of her parents’ pets when they passed and took in the cats that Samantha brought home. She donated money every year to support rescue animals - dogs, cats, farm animals - and volunteered some time at one of these farms every summer when she visited her favorite upstate New York towns.

Susan was an avid antique enthusiast and collector. She loved upstate New York and spent much of her life enjoying her parents’ house on Hunter Mountain. Susan was able to share this with Samantha during her childhood.

Services will be held at Leo P. Gallahger and Sons Funeral Home, 2900 Summer Street, Stamford, CT on March 16th at 10am followed by a ceremony at Beth David Cemetery, 300 Elmont Road, Elmont, New York.