Susan G. Santora

1941 - 2025

Susan G. Santora
"Loving mother & grandmother"
Susan G. (Meyers) Santora, 83, of Guilford, CT, passed peacefully on Sunday, March 23, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Russell Raymond Santora, who died on Thanksgiving Day 2020.
Susan was born in Hackensack, NJ, on August 24, 1941, daughter of the late John C. and Anne (Tomayko) Meyers.
Founder and Clinical Director of Learning House, Susan was a graduate of Connecticut College, received her master's in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University, and advanced training in Supervision and Administration from the University of Connecticut. Her early career included teaching special education students and administration, as well as working for the Yale Child Study Center and Elmcrest Psychiatric Hospital. Over time, her interest gravitated to the students who were having difficulty reading and she began intensive training in the Orton-Gillingham approach, with nationally known educators, Sally Childs and Alice Koontz. In 1983, Susan began offering specialized instruction in her Guilford home, providing services to individuals with dyslexia and other learning disabilities and Learning House was born.
Susan and her husband, Russell, sailed many nautical miles in New England, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, venturing as far as Nantucket in their 21-foot daysailer. They traveled extensively in Europe, with many memorable adventures in St. Petersburg, Russia, England, France, Italy, and Scandinavia. During their trip to Denmark, they visited the yacht designer of their Bianca Aphrodite 101. They were members of the Sachem's Head Yacht Club in Guilford, CT.
Susan leaves to honor and cherish her memory her two daughters, Nanci Carmenati of Branford, CT and Venisa Riebe (Rob) of Bridgewater, CT; her stepchildren, Marcus Santora of New Haven, CT, Russell Geoffrey Santora of Pasadena, CA and Deirdre Santora (Charles) of Guilford, CT, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Audrey (Carmenati) Kingsley, stepdaughter, Lesley Santora, and sister, Dorin Kelley.
Arrangements: A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 4, at the James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Orton-Gillingham Academy either online or to the mailing address: P.O. Box 234, Amenia, NY 12501. For more info or send an online condolence, please visit www.brooksidememorial.com .