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Memorial Keepers(2)
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Susan Caroline Llewelyn Leach
October 22nd, 1962 - August 4th, 2023
October 22nd, 1962 - August 4th, 2023
The best thing to hold onto in life is each other - Audrey Hepburn
Susan Leach, born in Bromley, England, on October 22, 1962, was a spirited, talented woman who lived a life worth celebrating. She carried her British charm and sharp intellect with grace, completing a Bachelor's Degree in Arabic at St Andrews University in 1986. A gifted writer and editor, she served the Christian Science Monitor from 1986 to 2005, leaving a lasting impact with her thought-provoking articles.
Sue's love of travel took her around the world living in Egypt, Boston Massachusetts and ultimately Barcelona, she was always one with "itchy feet". She spoke fluent Spanish, Arabic and decent French and was working on Catalan.
In 2012, Susan embarked on a new adventure, moving to Barcelona, Spain. Having found her love in the US and married Pablo Valerio in London in 2012. This newfound energy led her to launch the Bitsy Bags sustainable bags start up in 2016, a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit.
Alongside her professional accomplishments, Susan's warmth radiated through her relationships. She was the cherished sister of Peter and John Leach and the proud daughter of the late Stuart and Elizabeth Leach.
Sue's lifelong love of fashion and art were central themes in all her activities ranging from photography ( www.instagram.com/concalma22 ), Salsa dancing with friends to clothes, textile design and architecture.
Susan passed away on August 4, 2023, but her spirit lives on. She was a person of brilliance, courage, and compassion, and these qualities will continue to inspire those she left behind. While she may no longer be with us in body, her memory will always remain in our hearts.
As a token of remembrance, donations can be made to the La Protectora Animal Shelter in Barcelona, a cause close to Susan's heart and where she volunteered regularly . Her life was a beautiful journey, and we celebrate her for the extraordinary woman that she was.
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Resting Place
Lliga per a la Protecció d'Animals i Plantes
Next to a Honeyberry Tree • 41.41633041548886, 2.1270080925353057
Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Susan’s life with a heartfelt message.
Peter Leach
Friday 13 September 2024, John and his family went up to the Lliga per a la proteccio d’animals i plantes de Barcelona C/Guarda Anton, 10, 08035 in the hills above Barcelona where the lovely Sebastian gave them a tour of the dog refuge where Susie volunteered. "We then turned right out of the refuge and walked a few hundred yards along a dog walking path past a couple of houses to where the path makes a sharp left turn by a small Honeyberry tree (Celtis Australis also known as a Mediterranean Hackberry or a European nettle tree - which would have made Susie laugh as an appropriate resting place!) which provided shade on a hot September afternoon. The tree is just behind the dog walkers in the picture. The view from here over Barcelona from Sagrada Familia across to Montjuic is stunning and we could see the America’s Cup contenders foiling at high speed - so a fitting view for a helmswoman. We spoke about the way Susie lived her life - particularly her care and compassion for others, her sense of adventure and her courage - and how we hoped to reflect those qualities in our own lives. In the background and inspired by Susie’s love of dancing we listened to a salsa track, El Cantate, chosen by Olivia https://open.spotify.com/track/6y51ccpqbaBwnFthNCCZC9?si=LGEhNR7KQnuU152xkQfOiQ Before scattering Susie’s ashes we read Psalm 23 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NIV … and the following quote from Mary Baker Eddy which we found amongst Susie’s papers and which seemed appropriate: ‘When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings nor the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts. Oh, may you feel this touch, it is not the clasping of hands nor a lived person present; it is more than this: it is a spiritual idea that lights your path! We scattered Susie’s ashes in the gully just below the tree together with petals collected from English gardens including from hydrangeas, geraniums, passion flower, rose hips, roses, lavender and begonias - a tribute to an English and American rose."
Hugo Gramajo
John, Peter and Family, In case you can't remember me, my name is Hugo, we met in Boston. Let me tell you my own memories of Susan and how we met. She was a woman who loved challenges and loved to learn new things. She was also a person who was very generous to anyone around her and very loyal friend. She went to a Latin music club for the first time, and I happened to be there. I noticed her desire to learn to dance, by just looking at her following with her eyes all couples dancing moves and probably imagining it was her doing that. I approached her and asked her if she wanted to dance with me. She was nervous and told me that she never danced those types of rhythms before. I promised her, if she danced with me all night, I would continue to teach her how to dance Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Vallenato, Forró, Sertaneja, etc. What a bad idea, she became addicted to it! Other wonderful memories of her were our trips to several states in USA and other countries; specially the time when we traveled to Guatemala. She wanted to learn Spanish before the trip. She took few lessons from me, but I was shocked when I listen to her having a conversation with few members of my family. Then she had totally different goal. Her bag business was an idea that started in Massachusetts, but didn’t get as far as she hoped for. Obviously I was so happy when I found out that she persisted and finally succeeded, when she moved to Barcelona. John and Peter, a week ago, I was precisely thinking about Susan. I went through hundreds of pictures I took during those wonderful times with her. Immediately after, curiosity got to me and I typed her name on Google; that’s how I learned about Susan’s death; and I haven’t been able to control my sadness. All I can say to you and your family is, you should be proud of her, she was a unique person. Proof of that is how people express themselves about her. I asked God during my prayers to treasure her and make sure to let her know that she will never be forgotten.
Jim Bencivenga
A recent citation in a Christian Science Bible Lesson made reference to a passage in the New Testament where Jesus is talking with a non-Jewish mother who is desperately asking him to heal her child of an evil spirit. This passage always reminds me of Sue because we had discussed it at some length years ago. We both found it very disturbing for it seemed Jesus at first was so out of character, callous, even downright mean to this woman; then he had what we thought was an abrupt, "Deus ex machina" change of heart. Before we even knew each we had missed the point Jesus was making and how he was making it. Here's the passage. "21¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." Matt.15: 21-27 It wasn't until I had done some research and found reference to a Jesuit exegesis on this passage and I shared it with Sue. We both had the "a ha" moment. (Sue would routinely tease me about my Jesuit background as I graduated from a four year Jesuit college, LeMoyne, 1965-69, in Syracuse, NY. long before I became a student of Christian Science or had met Sue.) What the good Jebbie I referenced pointed out about this passage was that Jesus had three audiences in mind. The first was the greater audience of the New Testament. He had come to save all mankind, not just the Jews. The second was addressed to the woman herself like on a number of other occasions where he praised non-Jews for their faith (think of curing the Centurion's servant "greater faith have I not found"). And the third audience, in a most pointed way, was the apostles there in the room behind him listening as he seemingly addressed the woman in as sarcastic a tone as one will find him using. He was actually talking over his shoulder to the apostles - telling the woman "we all know the Jews are the chosen people, not you, you're like a dog under the table," something he of course didn't believe or feel. He was reproaching, correcting, the Apostles in light of their belief in a Jewish sense of special exclusion above all others in the eyes of God - something Peter would later struggle with after Jesus' ascension. In essence he was shaming them for their belief and challenging them to change it. This last point is what both Sue and I had missed from the first time we ever read this passage in Sunday school as kids. Such a profound spiritual insight (gaining an understanding of Scripture that neither of us had held before) reflects the special bond I will always feel towards Sue.
Kirsten, Sue’S Friend From The Monitor
I always think of Sue around Christmas / the holidays. It’s when we would keep in touch after we each left the Monitor. We would share greetings of good cheer, support, and friendship. What a lovely, beautiful person! Intelligent, savvy, empathetic, fun, funny, stylish, “worldly” wise, loving, spiritually minded, warm, caring, authentic… I could go on and on. I admired her in ways she never knew (she was prescient, too). I have a vivid memory of watching Sue gracefully move through a busy newsroom in the 1990s: She was wearing a beautiful light-green-blue cashmere sweater (jumper), and the light from a bank of windows shone on her at that very moment. “Sue,” I said, “that color brings out your beautiful blue eyes!” (It really did!) She replied graciously — and no doubt followed up with a clever remark, as she often did, with a smile. It was so “Sue.” As others have remarked, her laugh was incredibly memorable. We shared like-minded friends, and we occasionally talked about our experiences growing up in families as the only girl among brothers. She will be missed dearly. John, Peter, and all those that love Sue — wishing you peace.
Rinat Harel
Dear John and Peter: My name is Rinat and I was a neighbor of Su's back in Somerville, and our friendship continued after she moved away. We spoke a few months ago and she shared her plans and dreams. I'm in shock at this horrible news, she will always live in my heart and memories, one of the most belived souls I ever met. I hope you and your families are well.
Peter Johnson
Susie’s birthday, today, is a day I’ve celebrated with her – not always on the exact day—for over 30 years. Sometimes in person --in recent years, together with Pablo-- but more often at a distance. Despite the miles, or sometimes years between in-person meetings, Susie’s birthday or other opportunities to connect, would reignite cascades of repartee, witty entendres, understated English humor –sorry, humour—and attempts at these in French, Arabic or Spanish (Susie bettering me by far in all three). This relationship was brilliant and unique in my life and, although my whole family participated in the friendship, I thought of her as a sister (of course, far less consequential for Susie than the enduring love and support from her own brothers). But special as this was for me, I am in awe to realize that Susie had so many close and special relationships with good and loving and interesting friends, in so many walks of life and in so many places. I was just one. She was rich in these friendships, which tell us so much about this special woman who, otherwise, appeared reserved, self-effacing, self-deprecating. This is the woman who, despite resisting having her own picture taken – want to see many I have with her flowing garments hastily pulled up over her face?-- took absolutely gorgeous pix of everyday things around her, turning them into extraordinary images of beauty and fascination. This is the women who eschewed business and math(s) for textiles, art of so many kinds, and journalism, but who ended up founding a company and becoming a empassioned social entrepreneur – yay, Bitsey Bags! And this is the woman who grew up in Nottingham in a lovely and accomplished family – but a comfortable and fully Anglo-Saxon world—who stepped way out of her comfort zone to study in Egypt twice, building relationships and making enduring friendships in a world very far away. Susan Caroline Llewelyn Leach –mild mannered Susie – was a courageous, loving and lovely friend. I miss her but I expect to continue to feel the timelessness of her presence which her passing from our material viewpoint cannot erase.
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