Laura Susan “Su-Su” Ramsay

1954 - 1981

Su-Su was the third child born to Bud and Ginny Ramsay in Albion, Michigan. Her life was tragically cut short, the victim of a violent crime, at only 27 years of age.

In her short time however, she accomplished so much.

She was so many things….an excellent musician/vocalist, a talented thespian, a good athlete, a hilarious comedienne, a great student, an uber-loving daughter, sister and friend to anyone she met. She was a GIVER. A giver of her time, her love, her talent, her help.

Su-Su, like her brother Dick, was born in Albion, but only weeks after she was born the family moved to southern California. She was only half way through kindergarten when the Ramsay clan moved back to northeastern Ohio. Subsequent moves over the next five years (North Carolina, Pittsburgh, PA and back to Ohio) landed her in Aurora, OH in the summer of 1965, heading toward the 6th grade.

As a young girl, Su-Su had become an excellent swimmer, swimming competitively at the local YMCA. Another glimpse at her athleticism…All 6th graders had to complete a 600 yard run in order to meet their physical education requirements, and she surprised everyone by finishing first in her class—beating all the boys as well! She would become adept at water skiing, and both roller and ice skating.

Su-Su participated in school choruses beginning in elementary school, when her musical talent started to show. She was in every junior high school and high school choral concert, and had learned to play the guitar and sing and entertain family and friends individually as well. In addition to all of her music activities she was very active in other areas—drama club and the school newspaper most notably.

She appeared in several drama club productions, most memorably playing the lead role of Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” in her senior year. Su-Su had an uncanny knack for mimicry—her channeling Barbra Streisand in “Don’t Rain on My Parade” was spot on! Another highlight of her senior year was being elected homecoming queen.

Not the stereotypical homecoming queen either. She wasn’t the cheerleader in bobby socks who went steady with the captain of the football team, or the bleach blonde who pushed the school dress code envelope with racy clothing. She was elected queen because everyone simply just loved her so. It was a wonderful moment in her life, because she gave so freely of herself to others, never expecting anything in return.

Not everything was perfect in her world that year... In her role as editor of the school newspaper, she was handed a 10 day suspension by the schoolboard for allowing content in the paper deemed to be “too controversial”. Her friends and local townspeople were shocked by this development—that such a good student and responsible young woman could run afoul of school administrators. To their everlasting credit, her parents not only saw no need to reprimand or punish her, instead praising her for her courage and individuality in full support of their special daughter.

Su-Su LOVED to have fun and was quite the prankster, pulling gags on family and friends routinely. Once, on a visit home to see her parents, she completely disguised herself as a clown and knocked on the door, where upon answering, her own mother couldn’t recognize her.

She was a sort of “mascot” or good luck charm for the Aurora wrestling team, attending every home and away meet, bringing her special “Gila” cookies for the team to enjoy.

During summers in her high school years she worked for the city of Aurora as a leader and camp counselor for younger kids, right alongside Curt Sucher, an outstanding wrestler, and the guy that would one day be the father of her sister Kelly’s two daughters!

Su-Su graduated with honors and in the fall enrolled at Denison University, where she flourished both academically and in extracurricular activities, most notably auditioning for and earning a place in the prestigious vocal ensemble, the Denison Singers, performing regularly for audiences in the Ohio/Kentucky/West Virginia tri-state area, occasionally soloing.

Along her journey Su-Su earned a position as a counselor/mentor at the world-famous Interlachen Academy, a private school devoted solely to the arts, admitting only the very best and talented young musicians from all over the world.

Upon graduation from Denison, Su-Su went on to earn her masters’ degree in art therapy from Norwich University in Vermont. She would go on to become an instructor and counselor at a facility in Ellsworth, Maine called The Homestead, for teens with emotional challenges and/or learning disabilities, helping them improve their lives through painting, sculpting, woodworking and pottery.

As a young adult she became an accomplished potter and was an excellent amateur photographer. She always loved animals and was especially fond of golden retrievers. She was an adventurer. In 1977 she drove by herself from Ohio to Yellowstone National Park, just to see it for herself. Driving home through a severe blizzard outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, her car was literally stampeded by a herd of elk, forcing her to stay for over a week while her car was being repaired.

To know Su-Su was easy. Her heart was open at all times. She cared little for business, politics or material things. She was the family free spirit, all “peace and love” as she came of age at the onset of the “love generation”. Her friendship was available to all… until the last months of her life, when she was in a close relationship for the very first time, she never really had a boyfriend, but she was a friend to all the boys and all the girls, whether they were pretty and popular, or homely and hungry for acceptance.

Su-Su was taken from us far too early, even as she was just blossoming into full womanhood. In her time on this earth, however, she touched so many lives and gladdened so many hearts. It is no coincidence that she died while in the act of helping people. It’s what she did.

She was, as her epitaph proclaims, “a ray of sunshine”.