Susan Merle Nash

Susan Nash lived a life full of love, laughter, curiosity, and courage. Born to Murray and Jean Eisenberg and raised between Maryland and Washington, D.C., Susan's early years were filled with warmth, family, and an emerging spirit of adventure. She graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School before earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland - the first step in a life defined by learning, connection, and purpose.

Soon after college, Susan married her first husband, Mark Nash. Together they welcomed two sons, Michael and Jon - her proudest achievements. Though she joked that she couldn't risk "another wild Indian that would push her over the edge" (her words), she found her wish for girls later fulfilled with the arrival of her beloved granddaughters. To her, family was everything.

Being a mother came naturally to Susan. She was loving, supportive, and, as her sons' friends would often say, "the cool mom." Her warmth extended well beyond her family - she cultivated friendships that lasted decades, built on loyalty, laughter, and love. Dana Cohen, Carol Pensky, Karen Alexander, Bonnie Kogod, and Wendy Shapiro were among her dearest lifelong friends, and the bonds they shared were an example of the deep relationships Susan nurtured throughout her life.

Susan brought energy and curiosity to everything she did. She was passionate about fitness and turned that passion into a business, co-founding The Fitness Business with her partner, Anne Seta, long before wellness was trendy. Balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and a busy household, Susan showed her sons what dedication and drive looked like in action.

A lifelong traveler, Susan saw the world as both classroom and inspiration. From Italy to the Caribbean to Africa, she and her partners explored cultures, cuisines, and conversations. Travel, she often said, taught empathy - that no matter where you go, people everywhere share the same hopes for their families and their futures.

Susan also cared deeply about the world around her. A passionate reader and engaged citizen, she believed in standing up for what was right and worked tirelessly to support causes and people that aligned with her values. Her curiosity never faded, and her drive to leave the world better than she found it inspired everyone who knew her.

In her mid-forties, Susan found lasting love with Richard Holden of Baltimore, who she is survived by. Together, they shared 35 wonderful years filled with laughter, travel, and quiet moments of togetherness, whether it was a beautiful sunset at the end of the day or cuddling up by the roaring fire during the winter months. Their home on the St. Mary's River became their sanctuary - a place of sunsets, stories, meaningful friendships, and serenity. It was also a gathering place for family, where grandchildren formed unbreakable bonds through creating special memories. An important part of her legacy is the strength of those bonds and the closeness the cousins share to this day.

Susan will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, her strong beliefs, her generous heart, and her unwavering devotion to those she loved. Her legacy lives on in the values she modeled, the laughter she sparked, and the countless lives she touched.

She is survived by her sons Michael (Kristine) Nash and their children Ella Rey and Cole; Jon (Jennifer) Nash and their children Gavin, Graham, and Charlotte; her two sisters, Elaine Shapiro and Jill Flax; and her many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Susan's light continues to shine brightly in the lives of all who were lucky enough to know her. In her honor, she would appreciate contributions to Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, which did a great job of providing both palliative and hospice care. You can make those contributions on the website or contact them directly at: 757-312-6314

https://foundation.chesapeakeregional.com/ways-to-give/donate/

Celebration of life plans are underway, and we will be contacting everyone in the near future with the hope you will be able to join us.