Susan Rae Reischl

Susan Rae Reischl, n‚e Corrick

Resident of Los Gatos

Passed away at the age of 59 in Los Gatos on May 29, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Tom Deemer, her stepchildren, and her grandchildren.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Susan came to California in 1971 to attend California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she received her B.A. in 1975. She earned a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration in 1977 at California State Long Beach and was awarded her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1980.

As an associate attorney, Susan joined the San Jose law firm of Rossi, Hamerslough, Reischl & Chuck (formerly Liccardo, Rossi, Sturges & McNeil) in 1989. She was named a partner shortly thereafter and enjoyed a successful 23-year legal career with the firm in which she was respected by clients, co-workers, and the legal community. Susan's exceptional research skills, incisive and cogent legal writing, and appellate expertise made her an invaluable member of the RHRC team responsible for many notable legal triumphs on behalf of her clients. She loved her profession and enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of her "work family," all of whom knew to make sure to have plenty of potato chips and dark chocolate on hand on a tough deadline day and to save some of the icing flowers on the office birthday cakes for her.

Susan's determination and drive never failed her: by quiet example, she taught those she knew how to meet challenges with grace and dignity, how to cope with obstacles with the help of a sense of humor, and how to reach out to others with unselfish generosity. She loved animals, giving a home to two shelter cats and a dog, and enjoyed traveling to the Southwest and collecting distinctive artwork from that region. Her family and friends were blessed with and sorely miss her steadfast affection and friendship, her passion for living, and her big, boisterous, infectious laugh.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Susan in some way are welcome to donate to one of the charities she supported: Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department (creating and maintaining County bicycle trails); the Humane Society of Silicon Valley; the Community Breast Health Project, Palo Alto, California; and the Sally and Don Lucas Artists in Residency Program at Montalvo, Saratoga, California.