Condolence From: Margaret Mengel Rosenkranz
Condolence: So very sorry to hear that Sue has passed! She was a woman of substance and warmth. Our families were neighbors and friends for at least two generations, and Sue always kept an eye on my grandmother Maude, and was a great friend of mine and my parents, Art & Winnie Mengel. Our children and some of Sue & Len’s grew up together in this wonderful, close-knit neighborhood. Every year we had a ‘progressive dinner,’ walking en masse from one home to another: perhaps appetizers at one, main course at another; dessert at yet another. Summers were slow and languid. I have a vivid memory of a lineup of kids on hot wheels facing down Charles Street, yelling, “Ready, set..”, causing all of us mothers to run to the street yelling, “You kids stop right there!” We were so interconnected: my daughter Elizabeth was great friends with David; I spent many happy hours chatting with Sue, or with Sue and other moms; worked on a town directory with Sue, my Dad (Art) and Charlie Merriam. Then every June, Len worked the Old Songs Festival in Altamont, teaching kids construction with popsicle sticks, and Josh (and all the little boys) clustered there for the whole weekend. One year Josh brought home the Queen Mary made in popsicle sticks. Last year Josh brought his own little ones from New Orleans for Old Songs “I wish Mr Porter were here to teach the boys,” he said.
Sue was a wonderful woman, I wish you all the comfort of warm memories.
-Margie Mengel Rosenkranz
Saturday June 15, 2019