Susan Savitch

Susan Ochroch Savitch, 82, of Key West, FL passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025. Beloved wife of Brian Savitch; loving mother of Jordan Savitch (Julie), Jamey Savitch (Melissa Hackford) and Jon Savitch; devoted sister of Richard Ochroch (Tina); sister-in-law of Ronald Savitch; cherished grandmother of Benjamin, Ethan, Brandon and Madelyn; adored aunt of Andrew Ochroch and Jason Ochroch (Nikki), Todd Savitch and Michael Savitch (Brittney) and great aunt of Owen, Theo, Andi and Huxon. Susie joins her parents Albert and Dorothy Ochroch who predeceased her.

Susie was a true renaissance woman; a force of nature packed into a small but mighty frame. The matriarch of a boisterous and close-knit family, Susie was a life-long learner, a loyal and generous friend, a dynamic community leader, a stylish, welcoming and entertaining host and guest, an avid athlete and a passionate fan of her Penn State Nittany Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

Susie was born and raised in and around Philadelphia, PA. Her father was a star football player at Central High and went on to play football at Temple and then baseball at Penn State. Her mother was a docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Susie attended Lower Merion High School and lovingly looked after her younger brother, Richard. Susie followed in her father’s footsteps to attend Penn State, where she majored in journalism.

On a visit home, she was introduced to a young man from Binghamton, NY who was studying at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. The young man was handsome, personable and his eyes twinkled every time he told a good story. Brian and Susie were soon “pinned” and, shortly after graduation, they married on September 15, 1963.

Susie and Brian moved to Binghamton, NY, where Brian joined his father to begin building one of the most well-respected insurance agencies in the area and Susie began building lifelong friendships that would become the core of her vibrant community life. She was very active in the Jewish community, always volunteering to lead initiatives at the Jewish Community Center, for the United Jewish Appeal or a local synagogue. She was also a fierce tennis player, winning many local tournaments and becoming a sought-after tennis instructor. She combined these two passions when she spent several summers teaching at the National Tennis Center in Israel.

Susie also pursued a diverse array of interests while she and Brian raised three energetic and rambunctious boys. She earned a brown belt in Karate, which came in handy for breaking up the not infrequent brotherly squabbles. She earned her master’s degree in Jewish Studies at Binghamton University, studying with several world renown scholars. She never missed her sons’ games or competitions. She was always the loudest fan in the crowd, often ringing the cowbell that she also used to call her boys home from endless neighborhood games. She even once jumped into the fray to break up a fight on the court of her son’s basketball game.

As her kids got older, Susie and Brian began spending more time at their happy place in Sugarloaf Key, FL and later Key West, FL. Susie and Brian built an amazing network of friends from the many sports and cultural activities they enjoyed, and a third family was born. She played tennis and golf regularly, attended theater, music and artistic events, and enjoyed frequent dinners with friends at home and on the town. She always enjoyed a good cocktail party and, like her father, favored a Crown Royal with three cubes.

Susie was very involved in the Key West Jewish community, where she built a rich communal life as a member of Congregation B’nai Zion. One of her crowning achievements was deeply researching the Jewish history of Key West, which led to the publication of a well-received collaboration with author Arlo Haskell, The Jews of Key West: Smugglers, Cigar Makers, and Revolutionaries (1823-1969) and the creation of five murals depicting this history, which are permanently displayed at Congregation B’nai Zion.

Relatives and friends are invited to funeral services on Thursday, October 16, 2025, 11:00AM, Joseph Levine & Sons, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose, PA. Chapel services may be viewed live at https://www.levinefuneral.com/trevose-webcam.html. Interment to follow at Roosevelt Memorial Park.

Shiva will be observed at the residence of Julie and Jordan Savitch following burial and again on Friday from 11:00AM-4:00PM. Shiva will continue on Sunday at the Jewish Community Center in Binghamton, NY from 11:00AM- 3:00PM. A celebration of life will be held at a later date for friends and loved ones in Key West, FL.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Susan’s memory may be made to Cong. B'nai Zion of Key West (https://bnaizionkw.com/donations/) or to the Jewish Community Center of Binghamton, NY (https://www.binghamtonjcc.org/).

Arr. by Joseph Levine & Sons www.levinefuneral.com