Susan Rowe Obituary
Susan attended Anderson High School in Anderson, Indiana, as did her eventual husband Michael Rowe. Susan and Mike both were graduates of the AHS Class of 1974. Both of them attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where Susan was a ballet major and a member of Alpha Phi sorority. Susan loved the arts and was a very talented singer and dancer and performed in many plays and musicals during her high school and college years. When Mike completed his studies at Notre Dame Law School, they moved to California. Susan and Mike were married on June 25, 1983 at St. Mary's Church in Anderson, Indiana. For six years they lived in the Los Angeles area, during which time Susan was employed at the Bank of Beverly Hills. In 1988, Susan and Mike moved to California's Central Valley.
For the past twenty years beginning in 2003, Susan was an extremely active grassroots volunteer for the California Democratic Party. She encouraged and recruited candidates to run for public office and worked tirelessly to register voters and to "get out the vote." She was twice recognized, both in 2004 and more recently in 2015, with CDP Regional Volunteer of the Year awards. She was elected to a two-year term in 2007-08 as Regional Director of Region 8 of the statewide Party. She was the Chair of the Madera County Democratic Central Committee commencing in 2005 and served several terms as a Vice-Chair of the Rural Caucus of the statewide Party. She held both of those positions until her death on November 16. She also was a co-founder of the California Latina Democrats in Fresno. Susan was beloved by so many, and as one of her countless number of friends stated, "the love and admiration of thousands goes with her on her journey."
Susan was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jo Ann Smith. She is survived by her husband Michael Rowe, and her brother, Carlton B. Smith of Indianapolis. Her family wishes to express their gratitude to the surgical team and staff at UC San Francisco Medical Center, to the entire staff at C-Care in Fresno where she received her post-operative treatments, as well as St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno. A very special level of thanks is due to both the San Joaquin Rehabilitation Hospital and Hinds Hospice, each of which is located in Fresno and provided caring assistance that far exceeded all expectations.
Susan will be laid to rest on November 29, 2023, at Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana, following services to be conducted at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m. after the visitation. A celebration of life memorial also will be held in California, sometime early in 2024, shortly following the conclusion of the holiday season.
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Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home
November 21, 2023
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Patricia Brown
November 17, 2024
Patricia Brown, Fresno
A year after her passing, I am struck that I can literally hear her voice in my head. I remember her voice, at a thousand meetings, as chair of committees, and at lunches sharing the same table such as the FCDWC and the Eleanor Roosevelt luncheon. God, I miss hearing her voice. We had many hours gabbing on the phone.
Heather and David Bernikoff-Raboy
December 8, 2023
David and I are in shock and saddened to hear of Susan's loss. She was such a tough, mission-driven woman! This absence leaves a huge hole in her political circles.
We met Susan and Mike during the Howard Dean campaign in the early 2000s. She was immediately unique, with her large bow on her hair and cigarette in hand. She greeted us and took time to get to know us. As young people (at the time) becoming politically active in our new community, Susan stepped right up to show us around the Dem infrastructure in Madera and the Valley - even though we were another county north in Mariposa. Back in those days, Dem clubs were really linked throughout the foothills and into the Valley. Susan was always willing to open her home as well as drive all the way to my home (and other locations) to engage in the political process, learn about a new issue or just provide support.
She was completely reliable and determined. You could always count on Susan for support and to give advice on a Dem cause or campaign. She encouraged women to run before there was much assistance available to level the playing field. A woman of action, we can recall her involvement in countless causes. Susan was everywhere! She really wanted to get out a message, the vote, or become connected to advance progressive causes and Democratic candidates.
The benefit of her devoted investment in this work is that she leaves a legacy of memories and people whom she helped to get connected to the process.
Oh Susan, you will be missed. Just knowing you were out there making space, getting things done, being there to advance good causes in the Dem infrastructure was comforting for those of us who have backed off to work on other issues. Our wish now is for Mike and all those who loved you to find some measure of comfort in the memories left behind from a life ended much, much too soon.
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Patricia Brown
November 29, 2023
Susan was my friend and my political mentor. Whenever I called her for a ten minute talk, we would end up talking for an hour as she regaled me with backstories of political personalities and intrigue. For over eight years I was on the Fresno County Democratic Women´s Club candidate endorsement committee that Susan chaired with compassion, alacrity and steady leadership. The FCDWC was founded in 1932, and as the oldest Club in the Central Valley if not California, many a candidate coveted our endorsement. When others took credit for my volunteer efforts for Hillary, she was a true friend. I will never forget her.
Patricia Brown, Fresno, California
Lourdes Medina
November 29, 2023
Mike may you find strength and courage in this difficult time... thank you taking care of her! I was so lucky to have her in my life since 2016! She and Susan McCall and Barbara Pyle helped build and grow the Latina Power in Fresno county and state wide! She helped me learn all about the Rural Caucus and what Progressive issues were all about. Loved her sweet smile and her stern words when injustice was evident! Descansa en paz amiga!
Agi Kessler
November 28, 2023
Met Susan in the early 2000´s and liked her immediately.She was charming and bossy and pusshy and knowledgeable and determined all in one lovely package. Kess and I both really liked her, she was our kind of people right of the start, no nonsense, tell it like it is, and get to work. She has left a huge hole in this world and in our CADEM family.
Susan McCall Carrasco and Tracy James - Central Valley, Fresno, CA
November 28, 2023
This Beautiful Dance Major I called Friend was also a strong Champion of the Underserved & Underrepresented. Her Laughter & Joy equaled her Passion for Truth, Life & all the right causes. She loved Mike to the Moon and back, and her Kitties.
Our hearts are broken. RIP. Job well done. Susan touched many hundreds of lives. Life well lived. Pls look at her FB page, and the hundreds of pictures over the years.
You can also post your Remembrances & Tributes there as well. Her husband Mike will receive them who has been her equal partner and champion, having so dearly loved and cared for her including her final days and hours .
As one of her personal Friends, I am heartbroken for the loss of her, and thankful for time we spent together. Teacher & Student, Friend & Friend.
I met Susan in 2010/11. The local city government/Repub Mayor campaigned to to 'sell off' our national environmental award-winning 'City Trash Service'/to privatize it, keep more than $16M of Resident Reserve accounts. Under CA law, our local towns/cities must provide certain services at actual cost (eg trash, safe water, sewer etc. Had this Mayor succeeded, the sell off meant that the private company could then charge beyond actual costs, and beyond the affordability of our many seniors, disabled, single parents, veterans, unemployed etc.
Susan and I worked along side hundreds of others to gather petitions to place this on a Ballot and we successfully Defeated the Mayor's efforts.
Our Friendship and common interests blossomed from there.
This Beautiful Dance Major I called Friend was also a strong Champion of the Underserved & Underrepresented, Native Nations, Women, Youth, LGBTQ, People of all Faiths, the Truth, Progressive Values, and Rural Communities.
She was also one of the Founding Directors of the CA Latina Democrats - Fresno County, a VP Chair of the CADemParty Rural Caucus, helped many Clubs organize/function/fundraise, was an Administrator for more than 40+ FB pages/groups keeping them up to date on local/state/federal issues/events/bills, and was a member of many organizations.
Susan worked tirelessly to help identify, encourage, supported and trained others to #RunGirlRun! And of course she equally assisted the men to do so as well.
One year, Susan and I joined up for a fundraiser for the Fresno County Dem Women´s Club, celebrating 10 Central Valley Women & Young Dems, got amazing Local/State/Federal electeds to showcase & give out awards, including our then CA AG/now VP Kamala Harris, and raised a net net of $20,000+ (a record for our low income rural area).
Several of our fav national Women, including Dolores Huerta who adored Susan, always referred to us as the Susan´s Squared. LOL!
One of many `causes´ that Susan and I shared was the local Women´s Marches. Many do NOT know that we have more than 20+ Central Valley Women who are recognized nationally for their work! As one of the organizers, we sought out the Central Valley Native Nations & asked them to lead these Events with their Blessing of Sage and Native Prayers.
Our Native Nations joined us for those Women´s Marches and many do not know that our Native Nations were the FIRST DEMOCRACY, held council to our Founding Fathers and advised the sharing of their own `Constitution´ in writing/drafting of the young nation´s first `Constitution´, or that our Native/Indigenous Women hold equal place, and are a Matriarchy.
But as the Cherokee Daughter of a Cherokee Daughter and ¾ Cherokee Father, our Ms Susan knew these histories.
We also shared our belief that we needed to help raise the visibility of more Women, their achievements, and our Goal was to help elect Women to 51.2% of every Seat at every Tables of Decisions. We sought out local and national organizations, and shared, the many opportunities for Women & Youth to be recognized & compete for Grants and Awards for their many wonderful works supporting their Communities.
Susan and I also worked Convention years to train, finance, and bring underserved high school Dem Youth to the CDP conventions. We loved their enthusiasm and joy, and envied their ability to go without sleep!.
She also worked tirelessly to encourage others to learn to run for Office, walked along side of us for hours/days to help Register Voters, to Get Out The Vote.
Long before Covid, Susan was a Champion and Warrior to bring Rural/Small town issues to the front of discussions (eg the closing/shortened hrs of rural post offices, lack of medical centers/funding for 911 services, closing of pharmacies, need for local high schools ilo busing our youth 30+ miles which eliminated their ability to participate in school activities & sports), & the importance to `connect´ our communities/families/children/small businesses to bring Broadband to our small towns and Rural Communities, to support & lift up our Youth, to Support, Donate & Volunteer for Candidates, and she taught so many of us.
Susan taught us all how both the State/County/Local Party AND the local/the elected bodies were elected & worked, how to research the FPPC `donor´ records, a Politician´s `Voting´ Record, Cong/US Senate Roll Call Votes, how filing dates/Candidate deadlines/statements worked, how to research and track Bills at every level (who wins and who loses and WHY).
Susan also encouraged us all to Volunteer at least once with our County Registrar on election day so we fully understood how that all worked & the security of our free and fair elections, and to take the free US Census online training videos so that we could learn more about our own Communities.
Under Susan´s teachings, we learned how to research Sec of State Registered Voters stats by governing body, and why it is important to have nonpartisan commissions to develop representative `voting´ districts, and why every person must complete the US Census so that our communities were represented and that tax dollars come back for our communities needs, and that... all Politics is Local!
Susan always helped you celebrate, celebrated every win, every personal win you achieved. When my Down syndrome sister Tracy went to Court to request that her Voting Rights be restored, automatically denied at age 18 for Down syndrome, Susan supported Tracy´s efforts to challenge the Courts. When the Judge spoke with Tracy and restored her Voting Rights, Susan also helped Tracy celebrate.
In Susan´s final days and hours, Tracy and I visited her and Mike. Tracy loved Susan so, stroking her hand, sweetly and softly speaking to her, thanking her, and sang her special goodnight song from Lawrence Welk `til we meet again´.
Susan wished to be buried in her home town in Indiana, and her Husband Mike will hold a Celebration of her Life here in CA, probably after the Holidays.
To Honor our Friend, triple down on efforts to support ALL of her work, to Get Out the Vote = Donate, Volunteer, Phone Bank.
Democracy is at stake. Research, don't just watch tv or social media posts. Democracy is a `Team Sport´, and your civic participation is needed, every day, not just during elections.
Harriet Ann Ingram
November 27, 2023
Susan was an inspiration for all of who knew her. Her energy never stopped when working for the Democratic party. I could never keep ip with her. Harriet Ingram
Harriet Ann Ingram
November 27, 2023
I will always remember how dedicated Susan to supporting the Democrats in Action office She was an inspiration to all of us with her energy.
Catherine Balbas
November 26, 2023
Susan is simply irreplaceable. She was a tireless organizer and promoter of the progressive values we share. One thing I know for sure is that the world is a better place because Susan was in it. It gave me comfort to know that this warrior was always out there doing the hard work to improve the lot of all of us. I will miss her terribly.
Kathy Eisele
November 24, 2023
A hard time for all of us Madera Democrats. Susan came to our county and set to work to find and network with us. Susan tirelessly organized all our fundraising, voter registration and canvassing. She always was accepting and had a quick wit. I and John send our condolences to Mike and and Susan's loved ones. Farewell Such memories.
Kathy Eisele
November 24, 2023
Susan arrived in Madera ready to promote Democratic values. She wasn't shy about meeting up with likewise people in Madera and getting down to work. She tirelessly led Maderans in voter registration, fundraising and canvassing activities. She helped put Madera on the map. Susan's influence will be her lasting legacy. Her energy was amazing. She is certainly missed by me and my husband John. Farewell
Erin Haagenson
November 21, 2023
I first met Susan at an Obama fundraiser around 2008. Those were happy days. I hope she is still getting out the vote up there.
Heather Kruthers
November 21, 2023
Mike and Susan attended my 50th surprise birthday party. They probably don't know this, but my happy tears started falling when I first saw them.
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