I am heartbroken to share that our dear friend, Women’s Fund founder, activist and philanthropist, Susan Werner Thoresen, passed away on Friday, June 14, after a courageous three-year battle with bile duct cancer. She is survived by her adoring husband, Bob, children Kristin (John) and Erik (Tracy), and her four grandchildren, Jackson, Avery, Lilly and Clem, as well as her sister, Ann, and brother, Cal.
Sue had a profound impact on the Women’s Foundation, as well as the many organizations, programs and campaigns to which she dedicated her time, leadership and financial resources. She was known throughout the Seacoast and state for her work advocating for equal pay, women’s rights, reproductive health care, the arts, community development and helping organizations build a sustainable future through planned giving.
Ever the manager, right through the end, Sue told her caregivers she was not dying until she was able to see a pre-publication of her upcoming book, Choose Joy! With her wishes at the forefront of their minds and wanting to help Sue see the final result of her years’ long work, her husband, Bob, and son, Erik, set up an office in the hospital, taking turns editing the manuscript, while the rest of Sue’s family sat with her for hours, telling stories. Four days after she entered the hospital, a copy of Choose Joy! was delivered to her room. Her husband, children and grandchildren got to be with her as she saw her final project realized. Two days later, she entered hospice.
We are so grateful to have been able to honor Sue as our 2024 AmplifiHER recipient at our GALA a few months ago. As we prepared for the event, we regularly remarked at how difficult it was to summarize Sue’s accomplishments, with her impact and involvement being so vast and substantial.
On a personal note, Sue’s impact on my life has been significant. As a friend and mentor for more than 25 years, Sue shared her feedback and opinions of me freely — whether good or bad! She was generous of her time and leadership and was always willing to roll up her sleeves and pitch in to help. I deeply respected her work ethic and her commitment to her family, friends and the organizations she supported. I am proud to have been Sue’s friend and I will carry with me the many lessons she shared.
— Tanna Clews, CEO, New Hampshire Women’s Foundation
HONOR SUE
Share a Memory
If you’d like to share a memory of Sue or a story about her, you can do so here: Share a memory or story of Sue.
Make a Donation
If you’d like to make a contribution to the Women’s Foundation in memory of Sue, you can do so here:
https://nhwomensfoundation.
or by emailing Tanna Clews at tanna@nhwomensfoundation.org.
WATCH OUR AMPLIFIHER TRIBUTE VIDEO CELEBRATING SUE
Watch here:
SUSAN WERNER THORESEN REMARKS — GALA 2024
Watch here:
