Sue was my dear sweet friend for over 30 years, since back at Stony Brook, when I was an undergrad and she was a grad school teaching assistant.  Her passion for science and the Mets was astounding.  I loved going to games with her, and I loved her zany humor.  She was a kind and generous spirit who never ceased to move me with her thoughtful gifts and hilarious cards.  I will always miss her.  She's left a huge hole in this universe.  But I know she's somewhere beyond the stars, gleefully riding a brilliant chambered Nautilus.

I met Sue through my ex partner of 25 years, Joseph Schipper.  Sue immediately welcomed me into their circle of friends like she had known me forever. The three of us attended many mets games together as she was an obsessed fan. She adored her cats and loved her profession.  I will always remember her quirky sense of humor, her contagious laugh and her zest for life. She will be missed.  My condolences to her family.

I will remember Susan as an nice colleague, always enthusiast! The first time I met her was a long time ago, when visiting the AMNH. It was always a pleasure to meet her during symposium, including the 8ISCPP held in my university in Dijon. I transmit my deep condolences to her family and friends.
Pascal Neige (University of Burgundy, Dijon, France)

It was always nice coming to cephalopods - past and present or the AMNH knowing that Susan was going to be there and cheer things up. She will be missed. My deepest condolences...

Sue was always such a good and sweet person. We remember how kind she was to knit a blanket for us when our first child was born. She was also very bright and extremely knowledgeable about paleontology. She will be missed by all of us.

I first met Susan at a fossil cephalopod meeting and she was so kind to take me under her wing, show me the ropes, and introduce me to everyone. Her generosity and playfulness made it a pleasure to spend time with her. Over the years, I've really looked forward to seeing her at conferences and on field trips. She was an amazing paleontologist and a wonderful person. We are all going to miss her so much!

Susan was the first person I met when I began working at AMNH as an undergraduate intern in 1995. She was friendly, funny and warmhearted, adored baseball (especially the Mets) and her cats, and was also an accomplished paleontologist. Because of her, my first years at the museum are full of fun & happy memories, and she will be missed.

Sorry to hear of Sue's passing, Your all in my thoughts and prayers, Blessings to all,

Sue was a sweet person, so accomplished without an ounce of pretension.  Just a wonderful woman - and a really great Mets fan.

Such a terrible loss. Sue had been apart of our lives since the 70's. RIP Sue until we meet again.

Susan was the first person who befriended me when I started working at the Museum back in 1987.  She really helped me become acclimated to my new work environment.  I remember that she always gave delicious homemade cookies as Christmas gifts.  When I was pregnant, Susan crocheted different animals as well as blankets for me. She was really talented.  After I was married, I moved back upstate (Newburgh).  She would take the train up around Christmas time and I would pick her up at the train station in Beacon and we would go shopping at Woodbury Commons.  That was really fun and we had a good time.  We were always on the lookout for unusual santa claus ornaments.  We both loved science fiction.  Susan was the one who suggested that I watch "The X-Files"  and I was hooked!

Susan was someone who I could talk to about many things and she gave her honest opinion which I appreciated very much.  She was someone who I felt was a genuinely good person.  I will miss her very much.

The people who have made an impact on my life are my angels.One of my biggest angels of all is Sue Klofak.Sue and I lived across the street from one another on Arden Place in Yonkers. Sue Klofak was my closest childhood friend. Throughout my childhood my mother was very sick,   so I didn't have a mother to guide me. I spent a lot of time at Sue's house. Every afternoon, we watched Dark Shadows at 4:30. We loved the campy vampire Barnabas Collins.  We were also devoted Star Trek fans. 

We were New York kids, working-class, streetwise, a little tough, playing street games: kickball, basketball, and football.  It was Sue Klofak who encouraged me to read.  We used to swap books.  It became a competition to see who could finish a book first.  Together we read hundreds of books.  Our love of learning manifested itself in very different ways. Sue collected rocks and bugs.  I wrote stories and poetry. Together we put on carnivals, posted flyers everywhere and charged all the other kids admission. 

Our love for reading transcended us far beyond our block and the street.  Sue stayed in New York and became a paleontologist on staff at the American Museum of Natural History. I moved to Seattle and built my own public relations firm and in my spare time I write articles, essays and books. 

In 2008 I began traveling frequently to NYC and I started visiting Sue at the museum. Sometimes I took my children on these trips. Sue gave my son David and my daughter Sarah behind the scenes tours of the museum up on the sixth floor fossil room. Sue gave Sarah her first tour of the Hayden Planetarium. Today Sarah is a science educator at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. Sue made a big impression on my daughter that will last her entire life. 

Sue and I used to go to Nick's on Broadway and eat massive burgers. The menu has 40 pages of burgers.  Sue also loved going to the Silk Road, a Chinese restaurant that served wine and beer for free. Sue also loved cream puffs, the NY Mets and her family. I owe my love of learning to Sue. I'm still reading. Reading saved my life. Sue Klofak is forever in my heart. I will never forget her.

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OBITUARY

Susan Marie Klofak

September 14, 1956 – May 15, 2015

Whalen & Ball Funeral Home

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