Susan R. Shedd

Susan Riddiford Shedd February 9, 1961 November 29, 2014 Susan Riddiford Shedd, 53, of Petersburg, died Friday November 29, 2014, at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College. Born to John A. B. and Sandra Riddiford on February 9, 1961, in Ft. Riley, Kan., she is survived by her husband, Christopher Shedd, to whom she was married on August 31, 2006; her mother, Sandra Riddiford, of State College; her brother, Philip Riddiford, of Bellefonte; her sisters, Cynthia France (and husband Brian), of Centre Hall, and Stephanie Riddiford, of Seattle, Wash.; her niece, Allison France, of Ft. Collins, Colo.; her nephew, Benjamin France, of Centre Hall; and her step-daughters, Nancy Lee and Madison Shedd, of Philadelphia. Susan was an actor, who completed her BA at the Pennsylvania State University in 1986, and her MFA, on a fellowship, from the University of Washington in 1989. A member of the Actors' Equity Association, Susan performed locally, regionally, and on Broadway for a variety of distinguished companies. Susan was a co-founder of he Seattle Shakespeare Company and founder of the Nittany Valley Shakespeare Company and Camp Bill, a theatre camp for children. The communities of Seattle and State College benefited not only from her exceptional talent as an actor but also her advocacy for the arts as a director, producer, and teacher. Susan's most recent occupation was as Operations Manager at The State Theatre in State College, which allowed her to be close to what she loved most, the theatre. A few of her most accomplished roles include Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra for the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival; Titania, in A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Bellevue Shakespeare Company; The Inspector in Inspecting Carol for the Seattle Repertory Theatre; Maggie in Lend Me a Tenor for the Portland Repertory Theatre, and performing in Bill Irwin's Largely New York on Broadway. Locally a few of her favorite roles include Rita in Educating Rita for Next Stage, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Boal Barn Playhouse, Harper in Harper Reagan for Next Stage, and Josie in Moon for the Misbegotten for the Nittany Valley Shakespeare Company. Along with acting, Susan was also a proficient singer and lover of music. She dearly loved her animals, especially her shepherds Mischa and Tussey, tending her large garden, reading poetry and biographies in particular, and all of nature from the pebble beaches of Washington to the rolling green ridges of Pennsylvania, which she was able to trek into every day from her home at Fairfield Farms. Susan fiercely loved all those in her life, but none more than her family "to the moon and back." Respecting Susan's wishes there will be no service, and in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her are encouraged to donate to either of her favorite charities: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 1893, Memphis TN, 38101-9950, or the Centre County Women's Resource Center, 140 West Nittany Avenue, State College, PA, 16801. Arrangements by Miller Funeral Home and Crematory. To leave a condolence, please visit www.millerfuneralhomeandcrematory.com