Susan "Sue" Lee Colp

Susan “Sue” Colp passed away in the early morning of Saturday, March 19, 2022. Sue had been beating terminal gastric cancer gracefully for five years, far longer than the year we were told to hope for when she was diagnosed. Sue was a heroic warrior who was filled with a relentless will to live, experience more life with Tom and enjoy her family, especially her 7 grandchildren. When she finally succumbed, she went peacefully in her sleep, at home with her devoted husband Tom Colp of 25 years and her daughter Jenny. The days and weeks leading up to her death were filled with long loving visits from her sisters Shelly and Jan, Sue’s daughter Jenny, Tom’s daughter Kimberly and her many grandchildren, both from her daughter and from Tom’s children.

Sue grew up in the San Fernando Valley; the middle of three daughters, mainly raised by their mother Virginia Fleming. Sue married Henry Stefanotty in 1975 and gave birth to their daughter Jenny in 1978. Sue and Henry divorced in 1989 but remained friends, brought close again by the birth of their 3 grandchildren Sabine, Leo, and Everest. Sue married Thomas Colp in 1996. Tom and Sue fell in love sailing, going places with the children, going to the beach, hiking, going on sailing cruises to Santa Cruz Island and their years together were also filled with adventures abroad and across the US in their RV. Sue became a loving step mother to Tom’s two children, Kim and Josh and grandmother to Levi, Logan, Candace and Caleb. Sue was always delighted to be in nature, especially around the ocean. She was happiest spending time with her 7 grandchildren: making art, playing games and being silly whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Not able to go to college out of high school, Sue trained as a stenographer and became an entry level typist, working for the government from age 19. She stayed in public service for the next four decades, training continuously for positions of greater responsibility. By 1991, she was a Contract Administrative Lead, responsible for oversight on payments for huge Defense Department and NASA projects. Through the 90s and early 2000s, Sue managed large teams of technicians: responsible for inspection of hardware and software for the Space Shuttle main engine program, the solar arrays of the space station and other critical government programs. Sue continued taking college courses, even after she became a high level manager for the Defense Contracts Management Agency. She ultimately received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1998, with Cum Laude honors. Sue retired in 2006 after 37 years of public service.

Sue was beautiful, fun loving, quick to laugh and slow to anger, positive even when her health was at its worst. Sue was a dedicated grandmother which gave her so much joy! She was sweet, easy-going and adventurous to the end. She inspired us with her strength and filled us with her love. We miss her terribly, but are glad that she is finally without pain.