Suzanne Willis

Suzanne Willis of Garrison, previously of Scarsdale and Irvington, N.Y., died on November 17.  Suzanne was born on February 24, 1940, to Barbara Phillips and Arthur H. Willis. She was the oldest of four children (Pamela, Claire and John).  She is predeceased by her second husband Edmund J. Drake, and is survived by her first husband Daniel Sheehy, her sons David A. Sheehy (Elisabeth Sachs) and Peter P. Sheehy (Janice Min) and her grandchildren Jack Sachs Sheehy, Liza Sachs Sheehy, Parker Willis Sheehy, Tate Phillips Sheehy, and Lila Beatrice Sheehy.  Her family also included her beloved dog Herbie and two loving rescue cats, Molly and Red.

Suzanne was very active in her community, volunteering with a number of non-profits and giving tirelessly of her time.  She was a member of the Hartsdale Kiwanis Club for more than 30 years, Cold Spring Lions Club, and served for a number of years on the CoveCare Center board (formerly Putnam Family and Community Services) where she also served on their fundraising committee.  She was also active with the United Way Westchester/Putnam, Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program, and was a founding member of the Philipstown Behavioral Health HUB which provides local access to mental health and addiction resources.

Suzanne graduated with a master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University and taught and worked in the Greenburgh Central School District #7 for more than 20 years.  She also was a photographer and columnist for the Greenburgh and Scarsdale Inquirer newspapers as well as the Cleveland Van West Real Estate office in Scarsdale.

Suzanne was loved by all who knew her. She will be remembered for her thoughtfulness, her generosity toward so many people in her community, her plain-spoken, forthright and unassuming style, her deep sensitivity to the needs of others and her love and passion for animals.

A celebration of Suzanne’s life will be held at a date to be determined in 2023.

Contributions in her memory may be sent to the HUB, 5 Stone Street, Box 317, Cold Spring, N.Y. 10516, an organization she co-founded, or to CoveCare Center at 1808 Route 6, Carmel, N.Y. 10512.