I was thinking of you two yesterday and telling myself that it was a long time since I heard from you. What a shock when I learned the news this morning.
You both welcomed me with open arms into your beautiful house and life a few years ago during my trip in America and I will never forget it.
Susan was extremely kind, generous and sweet and I keep very good memories of her in my heart.
This picture of you two taken at the Huntington Gardens is so precious and I keep it in my computer since all these years.
I'm so sorry for your loss Roberto and I'm thinking of you.
Love,
Chrystelle, the french woman

We met Susan and Roberto some 25-30 years ago, through their neighbors Ron and Suzie. The six of us became good friends along with Steve and Jeannette and eventually the eight of us became “the Rowdies”. (Now I’m wondering if that period should go after the quote, or before. Susan would know, of course.) We shared a lot of good food, good conversation, and good laughs together, over the years.
This photo of Susan and Roberto, taken almost 20 years ago, exemplifies the two of them. Always together and always so much in love. Whenever we'd share a meal or visit with them, they insisted that they sit side-by-side, no ifs, ands, or buts. They were inseparable and forever intertwined in their love, and that's how we'll always remember Susan. She loved Roberto so much.
She was generous and loving to old friends and to new ones. She had a gentle touch, a way of giving advice (but only when asked). She was smart and inquisitive, always wanting to know the source of a social media post to be sure it was credible information. She was the ultimate investigator. And she had a hearty laugh. She loved to laugh.
Steven and I are so sorry, Roberto. We know that Susan’s love and spirit will be with you always.

A real mensch Susan. Not many people I've met are able to embrace their own humanity like Susan. Humble, intelligent, kind, warm, generous, witty, spiritual, selfless... these are some of the character traits I observed over my time knowing this lovely lady.

I got to know Susan when my father, a long-time friend of Roberto's, had hit rock bottom and she helped find him a safe place to live that just happened to be around the corner from their house. What a blessing for me and my father!! Susan welcomed my dad into their home for meals and checked in on him and was generally just a supportive friend. My dad teased her by calling her "mom" but I know he appreciated her.When my son and I came to visit, she welcomed us into their home and provided a space for my dad to connect with his grandson Anton. One of my highlight memories was spending Easter together in Susan and Roberto's home with a couple friends of mine as well. We revived my dad's old Lithuanian-tradition of egg-making involving onion skins. It just was one of those occasions where everything came together and felt enjoyable, simple, easy. Susan was nurturing and good at "adulting". When my father went into liver failure and was nearing the end of his life, it was Susan that guided and protected me. She called me in Germany, relayed doctors assessments and helped me decided the best course of action in those critical first days. Before my arrival, she had his apartment cleaned so I wouldn't have to witness the state of his decline before hospitalisation; she gently prepared me for his death and finally, it was Susan's sweet voice that woke me in the middle of the night and told me my father had passed away. There was no one I would rather have had break that news to me. She continued to be there for me and even my mother- while Susan was battling her own cancer, she made the effort to bring my mom to the City of Hope research center. Its just amazing what a good person she was.

I was very down that I didn't make it to see her one more time, I didn't know the time was running thin. But I feel like she hears us all somehow. I am grateful that she got to meet my new partner and love of my life Chris on our last visit. I am grateful to have known her and wish Roberto peace through this journey of loss. You were both very lucky. Much love, Daena, Anton & Casper (and of course Link) I will miss you Susan.

I’ve been waiting for the right words to come to me to share how I feel about Susan. But Susan’s virtues can’t be conveyed with simple words. She had brilliance, kindness, passion, tenderness, wit, precision, grace, talent, patience and knowledge beyond measure. One of my first thoughts when I received the news that Susan had died was, “Who am I going to call when I need advice?” A subsequent thought was “Damn, I didn’t write down any of her recipes.” But mostly it felt like a longing for one of her absolutely perfect hugs, and regret for not calling her more often. In the short time I knew her, she quickly became one of the most important people of my life. We met for the first time in April of last year, for lunch at Millie’s in Pasadena (with her husband Roberto and my partner Angel) after connecting over the internet via the DNA genetic testing site 23andMe. We shared a common ancestor! But Susan was far more to me than my 5th cousin twice removed. She was my friend. She was my teacher. We didn’t have to be related, but I’m so glad that we are. I hope that I carry some of her best genes with me. I hope I can lead a life that’s at least half as full of love and art and laughter and philanthropy as hers was. Reading through everyone’s comments and stories had me laughing, crying and feeling so infinitely grateful to have known her. Her departure from those of us that are still here is most certainly a loss, but it pales in comparison to all that we have gained by experiencing life with her in it.

My heart ached upon learning of Susan’s passing. I met Susan in 1989 at JPL when working for Jay Schmuecker’s group (MASS). She welcomed me with open arms and encouraged me throughout my employment at JPL when I finally left in the fall of 2000. Susan had a joyful heart and made everyone comfortable with her continual patience and smiles. Although I moved from California and made Albuquerque my home I still felt a connection to Susan. She and Roberto welcomed me in their home when I could find time to visit the Pasadena area. I will miss her! And Roberto, may it comfort you to know that so many others share your sorrow. God Bless you and all of Susan’s friends.

Susan was deservedly proud of her role in establishing Pasadena's McDonald Park in 1982, a lovely five-acre space in the heart of the city's famous Bungalow Heaven. Featuring a children's play area, a softball diamond, handball courts, picnic facilities, and more.
Susan worked hard helping to organize the neighborhood and work with and coordinate with the city and other stakeholders. The Park was finely dedicated with a big celebration on February 6, 1982. The Mayor showed up, there were balloons, a pony-ride, and an antique fire-engine! McDonald Park has brought pleasure to countless Angelenos -- making it a fitting legacy indeed.

I met Susan 40 years ago at JPL when we were both in the Documentation Section, first at Foothill and then at the Lab. We quickly became close friends and remained so, even after I left the Lab in 1996 to join the faculty at Cal State LA.

Susan was brilliant and hilarious, with a deep expertise as an editor. She was also patient and caring and was a tireless listener. She was probably my closest friend, but I was just one of her many close friends. (That says a lot about Susan and I hope not too much about me!)

Susan was a master of many things, but I will remember her most as a master of affirmation. She simply made people feel good about themselves. I believe that she practiced affirmation consciously, as I remember her sending me emails about its power maybe 20 years ago now. She was incredibly skilled in it--not always an easy task for an editor. She did not always see the good in people but she would be their champion if she saw that their cause was just. She was big on tolerance but not necessarily on acceptance. She was uplifting to be around because of this.

Susan practically invented inclusive. That's why the picture I chose to share is one she's not even in. It's from Thanksgiving at the Quintana-Foster home in 2019, and shows a few of the people she gathered into her home and heart that evening. Youngest and oldest guest are pictured, which I like about it. And the diversity of the table--Angel's amazing black beans and the traditional turkey carved so lovingly and expertly by Roberto. I will miss this tradition and I expect those of you who have attended in the past will miss it too. A number of you may even miss my huckleberry pies. Susan always made me feel so good about my huckleberry pies.

Although she helped facilitate many writers to achieve their goals and dreams, and probably put a lot of robots on Mars that wouldn't be there without her persuasiveness, Susan never wrote her own masterpiece. I was thinking about that this week, and I concluded that Susan's own life was her masterpiece. Her life, the home she and Roberto created, and the people she brought into it. Her community and her workplace that she nurtured and left behind better places.

Susan embodied tolerance and I will miss her little car with the "coexist" bumper sticker. However, she also fought injustice fiercely and with integrity. And I have seen her angry with the world but never at an individual she was with. Susan did not like personal confrontation but she had a powerful pen and was quick to open her pocketbook for the causes she wanted to support. She had many causes, and some of them wandered around lost on two legs (and some even on four--like her autistic cats). Susan was always there to help, even when she knew it would only help a little or for a little while.

I have learned so much from Susan over the years, from how to better understand people's motives to the proper use of a semicolon. I miss her greatly and offer my heartfelt condolences to Roberto and the rest of us who were blessed by her love.

I met Susan and Roberto as a young boy through the friendship that my parents, John Lowery and Pamela White, had developed way before I came along. I would often see them on my trips to California when I would visit my grandma and grandpa. They welcomed me as if I was part of their family. I remember feeding the squirrels on the balcony, I remember visiting the art studio, and most of all I remember how safe and loved I felt a thousand miles away from home. You were always one of the first to press the LOVE button on FACEBOOK when I would post a picture of my daughter, often accompanied by a loving comment. This seems insignificant to some, but it ALWAYS filled my heart with warmth! Love you like Family Roberto! May my Auntie rest in peace!

Susan, you did it! You completed your earthly mission! Well done. We miss you dearly, and my heart aches over you leaving earth. But now you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor (treasures stored up in heaven), be reunited with loved ones who have gone before you, and see the face of Jesus! I'm grateful for all the times we got together as a family to celebrate events such as Christmas, baby showers and kid (grand-niece and grand-nephew) birthday parties. I also really enjoyed our deep email conversations over the years, together. You've been so generous with your love and your thoughtful gifts. I'll miss your sense of humor. Thanks for being an awesome aunt, and for making the world a better place. Roberto, thanks for being an awesome uncle and thanks for partnering with Susan to brighten this world. We're so sorry for your loss. *Hugs*.  XOXOXO. We love you both! Love, Laura, Jeff, Andi, and Zachary.

We were meeting at our lawyers' offices during the HSPD-12 lawsuit. I said something -- I can't remember what -- and Susan grinned at me and said, "You know, I think I'm going to adopt you."

I'm just barely smart enough to recognize a good thing when I see it, so I adopted her right back. She became my Foster-Mom, and Roberto became my Quintana-Dad. (When I married Kim, they all adopted each other, too.)

Susan did me thousands of kindnesses over the years. It was the way she said she loved you. When our son arrived early -- while our only bathroom was in the midst of remodeling -- Susan and Roberto opened their home to us. When my irradiated cat (it's a long story) couldn't be near our toddler, Susan and Roberto cleared out a room in their home for her to stay in until she was safe again. She and Roberto officiated at our wedding, dispensing gentle, wise advice that helped us make it just what we wanted.

But so many of the kindnesses were so much smaller -- just one thoughtful gesture after another. How she learned my Byzantine food preferences to make dinners I'd enjoy. How she had just the right word, or just the right touch, when I was sad or frustrated. How she could just look at me with the right expression to make me burst into laughter.

I am grateful to have had Susan in my life, despite the grief her absence leaves. I will never feel that touch again, I know. I will never see that expression again. But I will feel that love forever. I love you, Foster-Mom.