Susan Christopherson

Christopherson, Susan age 69, passed away December 14, 2016, of cancer at her home in Ithaca, NY, with family and friends at her side. Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 18 at The Beloved Church, 1965 Sherwood Ave, St Paul, MN 55119: visitation 10:30 am; service 11 am; lunch following. Susan was born in St. Paul, MN March 20, 1947 where she attended Murray HS and then earned a Bachelor's in Urban Studies in 1972, and a Master's degree in Geography in 1975 from the University of MN. She received a doctorate from the University of CABerkeley in 1983. In 1987, Susan joined Cornell University's faculty in Ithaca, NY where she was recognized as an outstanding academic and mentor. She was the first woman to be promoted to full professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell and the first woman to chair it. She was a faculty fellow in the David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, and an internationally renowned speaker on the economic consequences of fracking. Susan was preceded in death by her brother, Mark and father, Ralph Christopherson. She is survived by siblings, Tim, Peter, Paul (Deb), Charlie (Tara Sweeney), Marcia, Amy (Shane) Loomis, her mother Paula (Blake Sower), niece Rozlyn, nephews Nate (Siri), Joe (Matthieu), Grady, grand niece Maria, grand nephew Per. The family extends heartfelt thanks to caregivers Nikki, Wanda and Liz and her dear friends Morgan Thomas, Ned Rightor and Jeff Chusid. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Community Foundation of Tompkins County (The Susan Christopherson Community Planning Fund), 200 E. Buffalo St. Suite 202, Ithaca, NY 14850, cftompkins.org/

Published on February 5, 2017