Susan Caruana

I was Susan's friend, lover and husband from 1964 until her death from cancer at the age of 34 on August 27, 1983 at our home in Piscataway, NJ. Susan was one of the most beautiful souls I have encountered on my journey through life. This is my tribute to her. Susan Theresa Damiani was born on October 15th, 1948 in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Caroline Scarano and Vincent Damiani. Her dad later became a Justice of the Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court; her mom could have been a movie star but devoted her life, happily, to her husband and family. Susan grew up in a typical Italian, Catholic household of the 50's, you know, strict, repressed, conformist...and, like me, totally oblivious to it all. She attended "girl's only wing" of Our Lady of Angels elementary school and Fontebonne Hall Academy for Girls during her high school years. She was accompanied in her childhood days by her younger brothers James and Stephen. We met when my band played at her high school in the Fall of 1964. She was the school photographer and I contacted her for some copies of the pictures she took that night. Six months later, Sue invited me to be her escort to The Emerald Ball at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. This was a BIG "coming out party" for the daughters of politicians, judges, etc. We were just two kids waaaaay out of our element. A year later, we started going out for good...her dad was NOT pleased but, damn, it was The 60's!!! Sue graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts from St. Joseph's College for Women (does anyone see a pattern here?) in May of 1970. More to come... John Caruana