Susan Barenholtz 'Susie' Smith

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Smith, Susan Barenholtz "Susie" age 75, of Spring Park, MN, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2017 after a 6+ year battle with cancer. Susie was born in St. Louis, MO. She grew up in New York City where she attended New Lincoln School, under the guidance of Columbia University's Teachers College. Her family moved to Princeton, NJ when she was a teenager. She attended Goddard College in Plainfield, VT where she met her husband of 53 years, Cort Smith. Susie and her husband moved to Minnesota in 1962 and started Minnesota Sum-merhill School on Spray Island in Lake Minnetonka, which operated for over 10 years. Susie was an Open and Montessori School Teaching Assistant in several Twin Cities schools. She loved living in Minnesota, the theater, creative arts, promoting children's education, and volunteering at Children's Hospitals & Clinics; was an avid weaver and lifelong knitter, wonderful friend, proud mother and grandmother. She was selfless, kind and extremely generous in her actions. Susie inspired and touched the hearts of many through her courage, strength, caring nature and ever-present smile. Her friends often called her "An Angel without Wings". She was a human rights activist, a 19-year breast cancer survivor, and an active member in the local groups FORCE, Chemo Chicks, and Handcrafters at First Christian Church in Minneapolis. Preceded in death by her parents Bernard M. Barenholtz and Edith Friedman Barenholtz, and stepmother Betty Willis Barenholtz. Survived by her husband, Cortland W. Smith; children Byrne Smith, Jessica B. Smith and Cary W. Smith; granddaughter Faith Whitmore; sister Joan Barenholtz; stepsister Nancy Willis; niece Susannah Carr. A Celebration of Life Event will be held later this summer in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation to CaringBridge (caringbridge.com) Huber Funeral & Cremation Service Mound Chapel 952-472-1716 huberfunerals.com

Published on June 18, 2017