Susan Joan Simonin

1949 - 2022

September 6, 1949 - April 26, 2022 After a courageous 2 year battle with ovarian cancer, Susan passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family. Throughout this journey, she personified true dignity and grace, a testament to the kind of person she was and the kind of life she leda beautiful life that was well-lived and full of service to others. Susan was born in Ontario, Canada, and raised in various lumber mill towns across the country until her move to the United States, where she attended Oregon State University, and then made her way to Southern California in 1968. She entered the real estate profession in 1974, and she quickly rose through the ranks to become the manager of a large real estate office in Orange County. In 1979, she married her husband Rich and together they moved with son Leif to Riverside in that same year, welcoming daughter Sidney in 1981. They both continued their real estate careers in Riverside, and in 1985, they founded Westcoe Realtors, Inc. where she was the Broker and he the office manager for 33 years. Westcoe would become the largest and most successful independent real estate company in Riverside, and they were filled with a sense of pride for their Westcoe family and culture even after their retirement in 2019. In addition to Sue's commitment to both her family and her Westcoe "family", she shared two other major passions in her life...her love of the arts, and her love of helping children. She became an ardent supporter of the arts, particularly with the Riverside Art Museum, serving as both president of the Art Alliance and the Art Museum Board of Directors. Her willingness to volunteer in any capacity to help the Museum was well known, and in her years of Museum leadership, she helped build a management team that still exists today. She loved art, and loved helping others see the myriad of ways art could enrich one's life. Her other passion was helping children, and to this end, she was happy to lend her efforts to the Assistance League of Riverside. Her tireless contributions to that organization helped it become a major force in providing desperately needed services for children in the Riverside community. Along with so many others, she was instrumental in the purchase of the current building and renovation of the League's location on Sunnyside Drive in Magnolia Center. She was recently bestowed the Assistance League's highest national honor for her leadership and guidance, a fitting tribute to her valuable service to Assistance League and all the children who have benefited from her advocacy over the years. Susan was preceded in death by her parents Sidney and Joan Forstrom, and her sister Lisa Smith (Rob). She is survived by her husband Rich, their children Leif Nelson (Bridget) and grandsons Gunnar and Miles, and Sidney Price (Steve), and grandsons Brixton and Aceyn. She is also survived by her siblings Bill Forstrom (Tana), Nancy Thomas (Ian), Margo McNally (Earl), and John Forstrom (Sally). A celebration of her life will be held at the Victoria Club in Riverside on July 8 at 2:00pm, which will allow us some time to heal so we can truly celebrate her life instead of mourning her passing. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in her name to Assistance League of Riverside or the Riverside Art Museum. Hers was a life well lived.