A sad goodbye and warm memory…
...toasting our friend, Susan Esper
Susan Esper passed away on Saturday, May 30th. Susan was a vibrant, sassy, red-headed social worker that was quick to laugh and first to a battle of wills. She had just begun her career as a social worker and true to form was already setting the world on fire.
Last night, I and a good number of colleagues, fellow-students, friends and families came together to say our last goodbye to Susan and offer our respect and condolences to the dozens of family members in attendance.
While speaking to one of my students at the funeral home, I remarked, “We should all be so blessed to be remembered by 100s of visitors honoring our memory as there are tonight” Sadly, Susan will be laid to rest today and her family will say their last goodbye.
As a group, we decided to spend an hour together catching up with how things are in our lives and to share a toast of Susan and how she touched all of our lives. With 13 of my students (ex-students, now colleagues) together, I was moved both by the events of the day and by listening to these brilliant young social workers talking about their jobs, what they love, what they hate and how they will make things different.
I was touched by their warm comments about our class together. This wonderful feeling of pride that I felt was something very new for me. I’ve never had the opportunity to be proud of a student until this point.
As we mourn the loss of a good friend and colleague, we’re blessed by finding time to share our stories and in the end, a hug and wishes for bright futures. Thank you Susan, say hi to my Dad.
