Susan Riess Obituary

Susan Lucas Riess, formerly of Marblehead, Mass., was born September 14, 1938, in Danbury, Connecticut, and died September 12, 2025, just two days before her 87th birthday.
Susan was the first child of Benjamin and Bernice (Pearson) Lucas. She came into the world as the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 battered Danbury Hospital, and from her earliest days, she was surrounded by the love of four devoted grandparents who all lived next-door to each other in Bethel, CT. When she was three, she became a big sister when her twin siblings, Ben and Bernie, were born.
A 1956 graduate of Bethel High School, Susan excelled in academics and extracurriculars before enrolling at Danbury State College. On her very first day of freshman history, she met her future husband - her World Civilization professor and college advisor, Richard Riess. The couple married in August 1957 and daughter Naomi, was born the following summer.
After a brief relocation to New York City while Richard completed academic work at Columbia University, the family settled in Marblehead, Massachusetts, where Richard taught at Salem State College and Susan later resumed her own education. She graduated summa cum laude from Salem State with a teaching degree and began teaching third grade to the Class of '76. After time in Jamaica during Richard's doctoral research, Susan earned a master's degree in school counseling from Tufts University in 1970, graduating with high honors.
Susan taught in Marblehead elementary schools before moving on to Marblehead High School, where she taught English and Creative Writing until her retirement in 1998. She also served as President of the Teachers' Association, participated in writers' workshops, and studied abroad, including a sabbatical in England and an Elderhostel in Poland. Many of her closest friendships came through her fellow Marblehead teachers.
Though she and Richard divorced in 1981, they remained friends until his death in 2012. The greatest joys of Susan's life were her grandsons. She cherished daily time with Noah, born in 1988. She moved to Durango, Colorado, in 1998 to help raise Antonio, born in 1996, while also caring for her aging mother. After her mother's passing in 2000, Susan embraced a full life of travel, writing, tutoring, and time with family and friends.
At age 70 she returned to Marblehead, where she tutored ESL students and built a close community, especially with her Powder House Ct. neighbor, Jackie Oldham. In 2019, a major stroke left Susan paralyzed on her right side. Naomi brought her back to Durango, where they shared four meaningful years together before Susan moved to the Valley Inn in Mancos in 2023. There she continued to read, watch Netflix, and enjoy family visits.
In her final days, Susan said clearly that it was her time to go. She passed peacefully, surrounded by family who were grateful for her release yet sad to say goodbye to a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, mentor, friend and head cook.
She is survived by her daughter Naomi Riess (John Rice); grandsons Noah Camack (Kelli) and Antonio Peña-Riess (Haley); siblings Bernice Turner and Benjamin Lucas (Patti); niece Kate Turner Sullivan (Roland); nephews Rich Turner, Mike Lucas (Kathy), and Dan Lucas (Maureen); step-granddaughter Ginna Pollack; former sons-in-law Tom Camack and Hector Peña; several Lucas and Pearson cousins and many great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family, friends, and former students.
She was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin and Bernice Lucas; former husband, Richard Riess; brother-in-law Richard Turner; grandparents George and Helen Pearson and Mike and Katie Lucas; and most of her dear friends including Jackie Oldham, Bill Hammond and Sam Sherman.
A family gathering is planned in Marblehead in early June 2026.