Suzanne F. Scott

Suzanne (Fink) Scott died peacefully in the early morning hours of February 20, 2021, surrounded by beauty, art, and love in her Lafayette Hill apartment at The Hill at Whitemarsh.

Suzanne- Sue- or Suzie was a force of nature and a fountain of creative ideas. She had enormous energy and a passion for life. She was known for her big heart, deep soul, sense of fun and adventure, and abiding thirst for knowledge. Though she knew deep sorrow with the tragic illness and death of her daughter Pamela at the age of 25, she remained eternally optimistic. She consistently spread joy, especially when hosting legendary gatherings for friends and family, and had a competitive spirit, whether playing a mean game of tennis or a round of Boggle. She was a loyal friend, a lifelong student and treasured any opportunity to behold a sunset by water. Her radiant yellow-green eyes always glistened in the sun, by the sea, and alongside any family member, friend, or fellow traveler with whom she interacted. Our brilliant and beautiful mom fiercely loved and protected her family and friends, gave wonderful hugs, wise advice, and made everyone around her feel valued.

Suzanne Ruth Fink was born in Pittsburgh, PA on August 8, 1925, the daughter of Clarence Henry and Ruth Klein Fink. Older sister to Nancy, her nickname was "Duz" as in the laundry detergent slogan, "Duz does it all," and she certainly did!

She graduated from Winchester Thurston Preparatory School and went on to study at Wellesley College, where she majored in math, graduated cum laude, and proudly wore the Class of 1947 yellow colors for the rest of her life. After college, she worked at the Pittsburgh Playhouse before heading off to Radcliffe College to earn certification through the Harvard-Radcliffe Business Administration program. Eventually, she found her way to Philadelphia where she met and married in 1950 her beloved husband of 56 years, the late David Gerald Scott. Together, they raised a family of four (Kathy, Craig, and twins, Patricia and Pamela) on Fisher Road in Jenkintown, PA.

Beyond her talents as the quintessential mother, Suzanne dedicated herself to volunteer work as an active PTA member, for the Mental Health Association, JEVS, Abington Hospital and wherever else her prodigious talents were needed. She was editor of the popular and beloved Easy Does It Cookbook, published in 1963 by the Philadelphia Section of the National Council of Jewish Women. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for the underprivileged, the under-served, youth with special needs, or anyone who just required a helping hand.

As her kids grew older, Suzanne went back to school at Temple University to earn a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling and certification as a Clinical Psychologist. She worked for 11 years as Director of Admissions and Staff Psychologist at Wordsworth Academy. In 1976, she established Academic Advisory Service, her own private practice as an independent educational consultant. In this capacity and for the next 30 years, she provided educational and psychological guidance to countless students and families. She specialized in school and college placements and testing for students with unique learning needs. She worked diligently to become expert in the field of education, traveling across the country to attend conferences and visit schools and colleges to best support her clients. She truly valued this work of helping others navigate the complex educational system to find the right fit for each student. She was revered by her colleagues and considered a "founding mother" of the Independent Education Consultant Association (IECA).

In 2007, after the death of her dear husband, Gerald, Suzanne boldly began a new chapter and moved to The Hill at Whitemarsh, where she quickly established herself as an energetic, contributing member of this new continuing care community. She gained many new and fascinating friends and pursued far-ranging interests, including sailing and cruise adventures with her close friend, the late Leon Sunstein. She also helped lead the creation of "The Treasure Chest" thrift shop at The Hill where community residents donated items to raise funds for scholarships presented to young Hill staff members. Suzanne read voraciously and was politically active until her final days. She and her children have been deeply grateful for the professional and compassionate care she received from medical and support staff at The Hill. She will always be remembered for her gracious spirit, authenticity, coordinated outfits, colorful scarves, and bright red glasses.

Suzanne is survived by daughter Kathy Weaver (Scott), son Craig Scott (Kim), daughter Patricia Scott (Ralph Picard); grandchildren Travis Weaver, Luken Weaver (Daphne), Johanna Weaver (Ben Chen), Kyle Scott (Elizabeth) and Cara Scott; step granddaughters Mattie Diveglia (Anthony) and Julia Reusch (Jonathan); great-granddaughter Madelyn Scott and step great-grandsons Jack and Elliot Diveglia, and Henry and Charlie Reusch. Suzanne was predeceased by daughter Pamela Scott (d.1983), husband David Gerald Scott (d.2006) and sister Nancy Nirenberg (d.2017). Services to celebrate Suzanne's remarkable life are being planned and will be private. The family respectfully requests that contributions in her memory be made to the Philadelphia Foundation (Pamela Scott Fund), United Way, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, or the charity of your choice. www.levinefuneral.com