| Graduation Year | Class of 1963 |
| Date of Passing | Aug 12, 2004 |
| About | Indianapolis Star August 13, 2004 Suzanne "Susie" Northam Hazelett Died on August 12, 2004 after a 4 ½ week battle with ovarian cancer. Susie is survived by her beloved family husband Bruce; daughter Lara Shelton (Tyler) of Fairway, Kansas; son Matt of Chicago, Illinois; mother Wilna Northam Chance; and brother David (Jan) of Rushville, IN. Although Susie was first and foremost a wonderful and loving wife, mother and friend, her professional career touched the lives of many residents of Indiana and beyond. At the time of her death, Susie was the Executive Director of the Randall L. Tobias Family Foundations and was responsible for the management and the distribution of all charitable gifts from the Randall L. Tobias Foundation and the Tobias Family. Under Susie's outstanding direction, Literacy for Life, a program designed to inspire excellence in the instruction of reading and writing, was created for private and public elementary schools statewide. In addition she helped the Foundation establish the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University in 2004. After graduating from Rushville High School in 1963, Susie received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English-SpeechSecondary Education from Hanover College in 1967 and a Master of Arts in English-Speech Education from Indiana University in 1971. She taught English in the school systems of Bloomington, Martinsville, and Southport, IN. Susie was co-founder of Markets Unlimited, an enterprise designed to assist nonprofit institutions and which served clients including the Indianapolis Children's Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo, Hanover College, and Conner Prairie. Susie served as Special Events Manager for Conner Prairie, where she helped develop and implement income-generating events for the Museum. Under her guidance, four award-winning events were developed which continue to remain Conner Prairie traditions. In 1992, Susie became the Founding Director of the Rush County Community Foundation, Inc., and then in 1994 became the first full-time Executive Director of the Lawrence Township Educational Foundation, Inc., directing its growth through its formative years. She also served as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Trinity Homes, developing marketing and public relations plans for the company's home sales. Susie served as manager of Hazelett Consulting Services for Nonprofit Organizations, providing strategic planning and fund-raising services to organizations including Big Brothers of Greater Indianapolis, Agape Therapeutic Riding Center, President Benjamin Harrison Home Foundation and the Indiana Donor's Alliance. In 1962, Susie was crowned Indiana State Fair Queen representing Rush County. In 1982, she served as President of the Children's Museum Guild and was a recipient of the Guild's coveted Spooner Award. She was a member of the Hanover College Board of Trustees from 1992-2003, where she served on several committees and was most instrumental in creating a student social gathering place which is currently under construction. She also served as president of the Hanover Alumni Board during the 1989-90 academic year. She was an active volunteer in the Washington Township Schools' Parent Organizations and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Association. She also was a member of the Junior League of Indianapolis. Friends and family will gather on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel. Susie's Life Story Funeral Service will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday in the Robertson Chapel at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may read Susie's Life Story, share a personal memory, arrange for flowers, or make a memorial contribution to one of the organizations in which Susie was involved or to OVAR'Coming Together, 3050 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Burial: Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion County Indiana, USA, 16 August 2004. Plot: Sec: 225, Lot: 156A |
