Susan Hepner Howard Brennan

Brennan, Susan Hepner Howard "Suzy"

On September 7, 2025, Suzy, devoted mother of Alexander Howard, loving brother of James Hepner and Richard Hepner, loving stepmother of Susanna, Katherine, and Anthony, Jr., passed away peacefully at home, with her son Alexander and stepdaughter Susanna holding her hands, her dog Moppet on her lap, her favorite music playing, and the last rays of the sunset on her face.

With the aid of her dear family and the faithful care of her brother, Jim, she had the time to say goodbye to those whom she loved, and who loved her fiercely back.

By training a psychologist and teacher, she was also a devoted mother, daughter, sister, wife, and friend to many over nearly eight decades.

Susan Carson Hepner was born in San Diego, California to Dr. Walter Ray and Jean Harvey Hepner. The first of four children, she grew up in a Navy family, moving across the USA before settling in Fells Point, Baltimore in the late 1960s.

Susan attended Syracuse University, graduating with a bachelor's degree. While in Syracuse, she met and married her first husband, Benjamin W. Howard. Susan was an enthusiast of the Whole Earth movement, and after she bought a farmhouse outside Alfred with her husband, she cultivated extensive flower and vegetable gardens. Upon earning a Master of Education degree at Alfred University, she taught in a local public school. A few years later, she earned a second master's degree in School Psychology. In 1976, she gave birth to a son, Alexander Benjamin Howard.

In 1984, Susan moved to Philadelphia in pursuit of professional work as a psychologist and educational opportunities for her son. In 1997, she married Baltimore attorney Anthony L. Brennan, making a new home in Towson, Maryland. She finished her career helping children and families as a school psychologist in the Baltimore County Public School system.

Susan loved mysteries and British comedies. She relished reading, birding, "forest bathing," canoeing, and singing. A gifted gardener, she found great joy in creating beautiful, whimsical shade gardens with Japanese maples, moss, ferns, hostas, and faerie houses. An avid cook, who had once cooked gourmet dinners for the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Galway Kinnell, and Adrienne Rich, she adored planning and hosting family birthdays and holidays around her huge dining table or planning al fresco picnics.

She is survived by her son, her brothers, her stepchildren and their spouses; her sister-in-law, Kathy; two beautiful grandchildren, Allegra and Grace; nephews Blake and Chris; nieces Elizabeth, Alannah, and Annie; cousins Barbara, Victoria, Robin, Jessie, Maxwell, Hannah, Rachel, & many more far-flung family. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Anthony Ladd (Tony) Brennan, Sr., brother Walter Ray (Sandy) Hepner III, and nephew David Hepner.

Family and friends are invited to reminisce and honor the life of our beloved Suzy at a memorial service at 3 PM on Sunday, September 28 at Roland Park Presbyterian Church at 4801 Roland Ave in Baltimore.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you consider donating in her honor to the ACLU or Doctors Without Borders, in remembrance of her fierce support for civil liberties and universal public access to health care. To donate, please visit http://aclu.org/donate or http://msf.org/donate.