Susan Koch Lenczowski

Susan passed away on April 1, 2025. Born in Meriden, CT, she studied art in college having learned painting from her mother and grandfather, an accomplished artist. Interrupting college, she came to DC to work for Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri. While there, she met her husband-to-be, John, who was doing doctoral research at the Library of Congress.
Susan's life took a new turn when she volunteered in the Reagan White House, helping promote the President's economic growth plan. She later worked in U.S. Steel's government affairs office, while completing a business degree at the University of Maryland. Then, after marrying John and giving birth to her daughter Katie, Susan decided to dedicate her life to motherhood. Her son Christian was born several years later. She volunteered at her children's school, Blessed Sacrament, and other charities, and kept up her artistic talent by chronicling the children's lives in daily drawings.
When John founded an independent graduate school, The Institute of World Politics, Susan became his indispensable counselor and helper in all things for 35 years. She weathered the financial uncertainties of a startup with remarkable equanimity.
After the children flew the nest, she returned to her passion: watercolor painting. She joined several watercolor societies and was a Signature Member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society. She exhibited at juried shows at the Torpedo Factory, Yellow Barn, Chevy Chase Women's Club, Strathmore, the Mill in Millwood, VA, BlackRock Center in Maryland, and others. Her work celebrated God's creation with paintings of nature and holidays and illustrations for a children's Christmas book. She and some friends ran an art class at Gift of Peace, the homeless shelter set up by Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity in Northeast DC, bringing joy to its residents.
Susan fought stage 4 cancer for almost five years, during which time she got to know five of her six grandchildren. She was a lady of Christian faith, grace, charity, modesty, gentleness, integrity, incorruptibility, and generosity. She treated everyone with dignity. Her life is a testament to the beauty and greatness of the vocation of wife, mother, and homemaker. Susan was a treasure who lit up the world around her with her everyday cheerfulness, beautiful paintings, and habitual disposition of selfless giving.
She is survived by her husband, John, and her children, Katherine Bridges and Christian Lenczowski.
Friends and family are invited to join for a time of Visitation at 10am on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Washington, DC; where the Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Missionaries of Charity, 2800 Otis St. NE, Washington, DC 20018; or to The Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/support-iwp/), 1521 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Services, www.colefuneral.com