Susan Katherine Tutor

Susan Katherine Tutor, 81, died October 21st, at her home in Milwaukee, OR, in the loving care of her husband and companion of 43 years, Gerald Black. She is survived by her siblings, Tom Tutor of Islesboro, ME, his wife, Sue Hatch, and sons, Dan, T.L. and Jesse; and Jesse Tutor of Houston, TX, his wife, Betty, daughter, Sherida and son, Brooks.

Born during WW II in Birmingham, AL, where her father was working as a chemist at a Dupont black powder plant, Susan grew up in Meridian, MS, and graduated from Ole Miss with a pharmacy degree as had her father. She was anything but a southern belle–opinionated, forthright like her mother and a lifelong advocate of authenticity. Susan lived by her own advice: Be yourself. She embodied that ideal with humor, independence, and compassion and advised us all to be ourselves, though atypical, for a meaningful and fulfilling life.

With various husbands she lived in California and Oregon working in different capacities as a pharmacist. Her last decades were spent in Milwaukee, a suburb of Portland, OR, working for Kaiser Permanente, in an enduring, supportive relationship with Jerry, a geologist, who she met playing bridge (both became Life Masters), sharing a home that reflected her love of beauty, creativity, and comfort.

She valued her few close friends, black labs, cats and protected and fed a menagerie of raccoons and feral cats.

Art and imagination ran through every part of Susan’s life. For decades she worked with fused and slumped glass with technical dexterity creating series that mirrored her wit and curiosity. One series evolved into conical Christmas trees with sardonic eyes. Another long series, The Universe, involved large bowls of spiraling galaxies of colors. A large piece of woven copper strips with turquoise and mauve patina adorned the fence outside her kitchen window.

Susan was entirely uninhibited and self-satisfied, comfortable in her own skin. If she liked something, she did it—without needing anyone’s permission. She ignored expectations and, in doing so, gave those around her the freedom to be themselves. She could laugh at herself so easily that you couldn’t help but laugh, too.

Though she was an avid reader, the grounds of her house–plants, trees, sculpture–were the delightful focus of her later years. She passionately completed comprehensive renovations of her grounds more than once. She liked to get her hands into things.

Susan will be missed as a supportive sister, aunt and wife, particularly when we were in trouble. She listened to us and loved us when we needed her most.