February 14, 2024
Brown, Susana C
Susana Cantor Brown passed on peacefully and surrounded in love by her family in Norfolk, MA on February 11th, 2024.
Her greatest accomplishment in life was her long-lasting and harmonious marriage to Jim Brown and the beautiful life they built together. Susana was the mother to Jessica Brown Sassalos (Paul) and Gregory Brown (Julie). She was also Mimi to her four beloved grandsons, Cameron (10), Andrew (7), Parker (5), and Owen (4).
Susana was born on January 18, 1947, in Newton, MA. She entered the world as a sparky, little black-haired pepper pot that got into more trouble than her three siblings combined: Kate VanNoorden Fisher, Joan Barnes Herbramson & Bill Cantor.
She attended Beaver Country Day School, where she learned that speaking a foreign language is a key to opening closed doors. Susana went on to attend The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was accepted into the first incoming class of women from out of state. At UNC, she took the opportunity to study abroad in Central and South America, where she could explore new places and use her Spanish speaking skills to meet new people.
Her deep faith in God was central to her life, informed her core values, and defined her closest relationships. She was an active member and leader of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Wellesley, and was often known to say, “I am an optimist because I believe in God.”
She spent her professional life working in sales. From working for her family’s company in the custom metal fabrication business to selling Silpada jewelry and J. Hilburn custom men’s clothing, she was an incredible connector of people and was always involved in the business world and community at large. She served on the board of the Boston Salvation Army and was an active member, including president, of the Boston Rotary Club. She joined Rotary in 1989 as part of the organization’s inaugural class of women.
Susana’s life was enhanced with farm markets, field flowers and country roads to explore. She “feathered” her nest with artwork and vibrant colors, was always fashionable, and was known to be an inspired cook. At the end of the day, family came first. She was the dedicated mother, the doting grandmother, and the cool aunt and we are so grateful to have walked with her in this lifetime.
A celebration of life will be held at the Needham Golf Club on March 16th @ 12pm. If you’d like to join us please reach out to Jessica Sassalos (jessicabsassalos@gmail.com). Contributions can be made to The Salvation Army https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/.
Comments(46)
Jim and family: Please cherish your memories. As a believers, we know that we’ll see our loved ones again some day.
Susana Brown served as a Board Director and Program Chair at our nonprofit women’s networking group, WBG Connects. Making her mark in this community, she sourced fascinating speakers to present to our group monthly for over ten years. Susana made WBG Connects a destination for women to get together every month.
We were so fortunate to have someone like her, for she believed in women in business and wanted them to grow and nurture their networks. Our hearts go out to her family and close friends during this time of sadness.
We are so deeply sorry for the loss of Susanna, so beautiful a human being in every way.
In every way, Susanna was such a beautiful human being. The world is poorer for her loss.
So very sorry for your loss Jim, Holly and family. Susana was a very special woman. My love to all of you.
Jim, Jess and Greg, Susana was a special, magnetic person. She had a poet’s way with thoughts and words. People were drawn to her, and she was always uplifting. She left a special mark on the world.
Jerry and I only regret not having been able to spend more time with her through the years.
Sending deep condolences and love,
Janet & Jerry
My deepest condolences to family and friends, Susana was a brilliant light and will be remembered fondly.
Dear Jim and Family, My deepest condolences to you. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to meet Susana at a Lion’s dinner. In that brief time I knew she had a light within her. The beautiful obituary is a tribute to the value she added to this world.
My amazing “baby” sister: you were a presence of love, loyalty and devotion.
You were the great instigator of fun and often hilarious adventures and family reunions. You loved giving gifts but you were the greatest gift. I love you forever.
My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
I met Susana and Jim at Staples and she was such a lovely engaging woman. She welcomed me to join the Women’s Business Group in Wellesley. Ever since that meeting I always looked forward to seeing Susana’s lovely smile.
My thoughts and prayers are with Jim and Susana’s family.
Deepest heartfelt condolences to Susana’s family.
I knew Susana and Jim Brown from the Boston Rotary Club from the mid-2000’s to early 2010’s. I was the accountant handling the tax and accounting records for the organization. We met again a few years ago at the WBG’s virtual networking group.
Susana was such a bright light with fresh air; I am so lucky to have known her. My condolences to all who knew her.
Dear Jim and family,
I am so sorry to hear this.Susana remains a shining light. Sending caring thoughts and love to you and your family, Sally
Heartfelt condolences to Susanna’s family. During my tenure as Community Counselor for Au Pair in America, Susanna (and family) was a client who became a friend. She cared deeply for all the international young women that she hosted over the family’s many years with this organisation. Long after both she and I were retired from the programme and even after my relocation to my homeland of Australia, she kept in touch. I will miss her thoughtful messages. Enfolding you all in prayer.
Barbara Letts
Emerald Beach NSW
Australia
Susana and Jim with a first people my husband Tony and I met when we visited Pin Oaks for the first time. They were both so welcoming and friendly, Tony and I knew we had found our new home. Susana was a wonderfully warm, caring person and will be missed deeply.
Deepest condolences to Jim, and the entire family. May she rest in eternal peace.
Much love to you, dear Browns what a lovely, giving, and sparkling spirit she will always be—Nancy
While sad news indeed, it is with great gratitude that we have had the pleasure of Susana and Jim’s friendship and love for the past 50 years. Susana was an inspiration to us all with her poise, elegance and love embracing everyone. Jim and Susana have been and continue to be very dear friends. With great love to this special family.
With love,
Craig, Pam and the entire Davis clan
We share your sadness Jim. We both so enjoyed meeting you in the day of conferences and your warm welcome to your home when we visited Boston. Though only together a few times we held our friendship with you in our special memories. Your care and love of family, friends and business associates leave a lasting impression. You have been a great team you two. We send you Jim and your children and their families, strength and love and memories of the wonderful Susana to carry you through this difficult time
She touched my life more than she will ever know when I was welcomed into her and Jim’s gorgeous home as an au pair to her two lovely children. Many times I reflected on her love and kindness while raising my own children. For that, and many more wonderful opportunities while living in Dover waking to the song of geese and the sunset reflection on the Charleston, I am entirely grateful
Susana was a wonderful person and will be missed. I have great memories of our family gatherings together. RIP and my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
To Jim and Family,
I am so heartbroken to hear of Susana’s passing. I was fortunate to meet and travel with this beautiful and kind human being through Rotary. There must still be the pair of black Defroster winter boots in her closet. We each bought a pair on a Rotary trip. I will treasure my boots as a warm reminder of our friendship.
I am sorry to learn of Susana’s passing and grateful to have crossed paths with her through Rotary. Her leadership, kindness and commitment to human connection were memorable gifts. I was lucky to benefit from her friendship and guidance as an ambassadorial scholar of goodwill in 2002 and forevermore. May her memory be for blessing.
I am so sorry for your loss. Susana was such a lovely woman inside and out. She was on my Silpada team and brought positive light to each meeting she attended in my home.
She spoke of her family with such passion.
❤️
I am so sorry to read this. Sending my condolences to her family and friends. I will miss seeing her and that wonderful warm smile of hers.
Jim, my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. May her light and love carry you through. With Love, Jan
Dear Jim and Family, we are so sorry for the loss of your Wife and Mom, Susana. Your Rotary family is here to support you!
Our Deepest Condolences.
The DeVito Family
I am shocked to hear of Susana’s death! I am so sorry!
She was an very accomplished woman, as evidenced by her extensive resume.
She will be missed by many.
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the family.
What a classy lady she was. ALways supportive and willing to listen
Ali Mahra
I’m so sorry. Sending much love to Susana’s family.
Dear Jim and Family,
Sending Heartfelt Condolences to Jim and family. So very sorry!
Nancy Flynn
We deeply mourn the passing of Susana Brown, a cherished colleague and friend. During her tenure at the WBG non-profit, Susana shone as a master networker bringing invaluable speakers who inspired and coached fellow members. Her innate ability to foster meaningful connections and bring out the best in others left mark on our organization. On a personal level, Susana’s warmth and approachability created a welcoming space where one could seek counsel and gain invaluable insights. Her passing leaves a void that will be keenly felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Susana’s legacy of kindness, mentorship, and unwavering support will be deeply missed.
Susana welcomed me to club #7 and was my Rotary mentor for years. Still today I often think, What would Susana do or
say.She was a friend to so many people all over the world.
Alice and I send our heartfelt condolences to the whole Brown family. We were shocked and saddened to learn of Susana’s passing. We just received the family’s wonderful Valentine’s card, and were reminiscing about our long-time friendship (shared from afar for the last decade, since we moved to Tucson). Susana was a great inspiration for me. I joined the Boston Rotary in 1997 and she immediately got me engaged in international projects, including an amazing Rotary humanitarian mission trip to Eastern Europe in the fall of 2002, during which we three Boston Rotarians traveled for several days in a beat-up old window van, from Prague through Poland and into the Ukraine, singing old show tunes as we clattered along narrow roads, replete with donkey carts, through groves of apple, fig and other trees laden with fruit. Having been asked to present “Traditional American music” at Rotary Clubs in Poland and the Ukraine, as we bounced along we sang songs from Oklahoma, South Pacific, and West Side Story. Along the way, we spent a day touring Auschwitz, a visit organized by Rotarian Lt. Col (ret.) George Finley, which changed my outlook on life and politics forever. I still present the photos from that trip to Rotary Clubs here in Arizona, to Rotarians curious about Ukraine and Poland, and European History. Susana was an extraordinarily brave soul, an innovator and pathfinder, who embraced life and faith each day with a soft-spoken but determined and persistent brilliance that definitely made the world a better place for all. We will miss her presence in our lives, but we know that she will live on in all our memories and inspire us as long as the quest for truth, justice, and community endures.
Jim and family, we are so sorry to hear about your loss. May her memory be a blessing to you all.
The Messina Family
My sincerest condolences to Susana’s family.
I met Susana at an entrepreneur conference at Babson College about 10 years ago. She was very helpful as I was embarking into working for myself on the side of my law enforcement career.
I continued to follow her career on LinkedIn as she moved into men’s fashion consultation.
Thank you Susana and may God bless you and your loved ones.
I am so sorry for your loss. Susana was such a special person. She and I worked together and networked together. She was a mentor and a friend. I already miss her so much.
I have such happy memories of both of my children having playgroup with both Brown children. They always came home with joy after baking and playing with Jessica and Greg. A wonderful mother who we should all try to emulate.
With great sympathy,
Jeanie Urban
Jim and family,
I was deeply saddened to read about Susana’s passing on Facebook. I joined the Newton Rotary Club in 1996. 2 years later, I starting working in Boston. Susana convinced me to transfer to club #7 in Boston. Susana was an inspiration in my Rotary Journey. I totally admire the work and dedication Susana had for Rotary, Helping people and her compassion for others. May Susana’s memory be a blessing to all who she touched during her lifetime. She will sorely be missed.
Rotary your,
Glenn
Dear Jim, Jessica, and Gregory, You mom was a dear friend to my parents and always a friendly and welcoming presence when I visited the Wellesley Church. I know how much she loved her family and am sending all of you my love at this time.
With love,
Sharon Cramer Lincoln
Our condolences on your loss. Susana was a supporter of many. In my tiny world, our paths crossed via her long-time involvement in WBG Connects (Women’s Business Group Connects). Also, Rotary, although when we discussed Rotary we also talked about Toastmasters. Susana was generous with her time and friendship, and I will miss our discussions. Susana had a good business and marketing sense and didn’t mind sharing her opinions (in a gentle manner). Such a diverse background as well. I had never met a woman who had worked in the metal industry, nor someone who was always so impeccably dressed (no matter what the occasion). Susana had both a winning personality and wonderful smile! Susana will be missed in my corner of the world. Sending virtual support and hugs to you all at a difficult time.
LISA & JONATHAN SHAPIRO
So sorry for your loss. Am sure she will be sorely missed by all who knew Susanna. May she rest in His peace and light.
I am so sorry to hear of Susana’s passing. She was a lovely person who shared light and love with everyone around her. Sending love to her beautiful family as they remember her.
I am deeply saddened to learn of Susana’s passing. Susana and Jim welcomed me to their home for Thanksgiving one year after having just moved to Boston and I wasn’t able to go home and see family. She was so thoughtful and always remembered the details. What a fantastic sense of style she had. My deepest condolences. ❤️
I met Susanna many years ago in a variety of organizations that she served. She was always happy, positive, smiling, welcoming. I am at a loss to hear of her death. Earth has lost an amazing woman
I’m deeply saddened to learn of Susana Brown’s passing. I met Susana as a member of WBG, a business women’s networking group. We served together as a Board members for a number of years. Susana introduced some fascinating speakers to our group, I’ll always remember the beautifully color coordinated outfits she wore with style and grace. Deepest sympathies to Jim and the family.