Susan Leighton Smith

Susan Leighton Smith
Susan Leighton Smith, of New Canaan, CT, passed away peacefully, while in the loving company of her family, on September 5th, following a courageous 15-month battle with Glioblastoma. She retired in 2022, after nearly 20 years of service as a language arts and ESL teacher in the Stamford School District.
Born on January 12, 1949, Sue was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, the daughter of Robert and Barbara Dyke. A graduate of Shaker Heights High School, Sue attended Cornell University, where she earned her B.A. and M.A.T. degrees, and met her future husband, Don. After working for a year as a middle school teacher in Rochester, N.Y., she and Don moved to Mill Valley, California, where they lived for seven years. While there, Sue resumed ice dancing, a sport she had enjoyed as a child at the Cleveland Skating Club, and pursued her growing interest in business and law, taking several courses at Dominican College and San Francisco State University.
This ultimately led her and Don to attend the University of Chicago Law School. While there, they were Resident Heads of an undergraduate dormitory. Their daughter was born one week after final exams during their second year, and the following year, they each earned their J.D. degree and passed the New York Bar Exam.
After settling with her family in New Canaan, Sue spent several years practicing real estate, corporate, and banking law in New York City and Connecticut. Following the birth of her son, she became an adjunct law professor at the University of Bridgeport, now Quinnipiac University School of Law, where she taught corporate and banking law for a number of years. Over time, she came to believe that helping educate younger children would be more satisfying and impactful, and she accepted a teaching position in Stamford. Sue found her true calling in this work and came to view teaching as her "dream job."
Sue was also an active participant in her New Canaan community, serving as the PTA President of South School for two years. She introduced New Canaan's first Odyssey of the Mind team, which she coached for several years; as eighth graders, that team was awarded the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award at the CT Odyssey of the Mind State Finals. Over the years, she volunteered to mentor or coach many of her children's activities, including recreational basketball and soccer, and serving as the head of the Sunday School program at the First Presbyterian Church.
Sue was predeceased by her beloved brother, Charlie; her mother, Barbara; and her father and stepmother, Robert and Mary Dyke. Her immediate survivors include her husband, Don; her dearly loved daughter, Courtney (Martin Grzyb); cherished son, Thomas (Julia Sick); and her adored grandchildren, Christopher, Nicholas, and Emma. She is also survived by her stepbrothers, John, William, and Christopher O'Neill; and her stepsister, Mary Katherine Setterbo.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 8th, 11:00am, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 111 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a small donation in Sue's memory to Building One Community ( b1c.org ), or Center for Children's Advocacy ( cca-ct.org ).