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Susan Simkin Obituary
Susan Marguerite Simkin died Friday, February 5th in hospice care at Socorro General Hospital (Socorro, NM).
A graduate of Earlham College (BA) and the University of Wisconsin (PhD), she was a Professor of Astronomy at Michigan State University for many years. She was as dedicated to good teaching as she was to scientific research. Her research focus was in Extragalactic Astronomy, for which she used both optical and radio telescopes. After research fellowships in the Netherlands and Australia, she valued the many international colleagues and friends she had met. Later in life, she provided funding and guidance to other astronomers by working at the National Science Foundation.
The daughter of Norman Victor Smith and Alice Margaret Gullen Smith, Susan was born in Detroit on July 26, 1940. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Roger D Simkin, and is survived by a brother, Dean Lance (Pat) Smith and a sister, Martha Kathleen Smith. She is also survived by two sons, Daniel Ian (Joyce) Simkin and Benjamin Andrew Simkin, and one niece, Amanda Natalie Smith.
A memorial service will be announced at a future date. Donations in her name may be made to the American Astronomical Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Susan Simkin
3 Entries
Bob Penny
March 13, 2021
My condolences to Martha, Dean, and all the family on the passing of Susan. I often visited the family home in Detroit when I was young with other cousins of mine. In fact it was in their home I got my first glimpse of television. Rest in peace!!
Sarah (Lindsay) Laurens
March 1, 2021
Many memories of Sue in Physics-Astronomy at MSU in the 1980’s. Rest peacefully, Professor Simkin.
Felicia
February 18, 2021
Sue was a great professor and mentor. I have fond memories of her. I'm glad my education at Michigan State included learning under and working with Sue. I had her both as an instructor and worked for her as a grader and exam proctor during my undergraduate years back in the nineties. I loved and appreciated how direct and open she was. I think it helped make her receptive to all types of questions.
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