SUSAN SIEGEL

SIEGEL--Susan Kanin. Sue Siegel combined intellect with integrity, bringing her sharp mind and unwavering moral compass to every challenge she faced. She passed peacefully in her home in Los Angeles at age 95 on January 9th surrounded by loving family. Born Suzanne (Susan) Jane Kanin in Brooklyn on June 24, 1929, she grew up on the Upper West Side of New York City. After attending Hunter College High School, she then graduated from Stanford University in three years, with a major in political science. Sue returned to New York City where she lived in Greenwich Village and worked at RCA Victor. On her way to a political organizing retreat, Sue met Martin (Marty) J. Siegel on the platform at Grand Central Station in 1952. They married two months later and remained so for almost 60 years. Sue and Marty moved to Los Angeles, where they raised their two sons, Jason and Daniel. Sue received her Master of Science in Education at the University of Southern California and became a History, English, and Reading teacher, as well as a counselor at Berendo Junior High School. She later became Head Counselor at King Junior High and then Assistant Principal at Fairfax High School. Sue was proud to have received a letter of recognition from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley for her years of service in education. A renaissance woman, Sue was an art lover, intellectual, and political activist. After leaving her career in education, she pursued her passions, art and teaching, by serving for over 30 years as a docent at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). She was also a member for over 30 years of the peer- led learning society, PLATO (Partners in Learning Actively Teaching Ourselves), originally founded as a part of UCLA Extension. After she served as President of PLATO from 2000 - 2001, she attended Past President's meetings regularly and was a member of its board until her passing. Sue was such a devoted lifelong learner that her family had to plan their gatherings around her PLATO schedule. Sue's political passions and active mind were as much a part of her later years as her earlier ones when she protested the Vietnam War. A member of the Resident Council of her assisted living facility, she was challenging the administration on several matters. Sue also worked with other members of her community to lobby her State Assemblyman on the issue of rent increases in eldercare facilities. Sue was very proud of her family. She is survived by her sons and daughters in law, Dr. Jason Siegel and Alice Davis, and Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Caroline Welch, and her grandchildren, Alexander Welch Siegel, Madeleine Welch Siegel, and Jamie Davis-Siegel and his wife, Erin Siegel. Sue brought her keen intellect and loving heart to enrich the lives of all those who knew her. She was in love with life and will be in our hearts forever. Donations in honor of Sue's life may be made to the Plato Society of Los Angeles, or Americans United for Separation of Church and State.