SUE RAUCH
April 2, 1953- January 15, 2011
Susan Jean Rauch, Associate Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid, passed away on the evening of January 15, 2011, after a long and courageous struggle with ocular melanoma and its complications. She died peacefully in her home with her family by her side, having seen many friends, family and dogs during the previous week.
Sue was born to Loren and Carol Rauch in Vallejo, California, on April 2, 1953, and grew up in Napa, California. She attended St. Helena High School where she was Student Body President and worked at the local A&W. Luckily for Willamette University, Sue turned down an offer from Stanford University and enrolled at Willamette in the fall of 1971 where she began a lifelong commitment to the Willamette campus and to Salem, Oregon. Sue’s student years included such highlights as her major in history, her service as a Residence Hall Assistant, and her semester in France at the Universite de Caen in Normandy with a group of 20 students led by Professor Bill Duvall.
After graduating from Willamette in 1975, Sue was hired as an Admission Counselor for two years. She spent the following two years in the Carroll University Admission Office in Waukesha, Wisconsin, before returning to Willamette as Assistant Director of Admission. Little did she know that she would become one of the change agents for Willamette at a time when the university was, in the words of one of Sue’s favorite professors, “…comfortable, a little self-satisfied, but not hopeless I think.” Sue played a major role in moving Willamette from a non-computerized institution to a leader in technology. Sue’s gift for mathematics propelled her and her colleagues into designing the university database, still used today. In addition to her organizational and technological skills, Sue was a gifted writer and for many years wrote all of Willamette’s admission publications. Sue’s leadership skills were appreciated throughout her career, but especially from Aug. 1, 2006 through June of 2007 when she served as Interim Vice President. Among Sue’s many interests were the Willamette University music programs (she loved everything from Mick Jagger to Puccini) and Bearcat athletics. Having been a member of “The Rockets” in the girls’ softball league of Napa County, she appreciated the art and science of athletic endeavors and took a special interest in Willamette’s student athletes and coaches. She was especially thrilled to do the coin toss at several Bearcat football games. As her illness progressed, Sue became an expert in medical terminology. She was an eager participant in a clinical trial at Providence Cancer Center in Portland, OR, and appreciated the good care and friendship of all of the doctors and medical staff there.
Sue is survived by her parents; her brother Ivan of Ukiah, CA; sister Mindy Harding (Nelson) of Walnut Grove, CA; sister Laurie of Salem, OR; favorite nephew Dylan, (Jessie), and beautiful grandnieces Elizabeth and Alexandra, of Kelseyville, CA; her enthusiastic dog, Rex, and a multitude of family and friends throughout the world. Sue is often described as “a force of nature,” a woman of great intellect, strong opinions, many talents, compassion, with “a heart the size of Texas.” She will be sorely missed and her contributions appreciated for a very long time.
A service celebrating Sue’s life will be held on Sunday, February 13, at 1:00 p.m., at Hudson Hall in the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center on the Willamette University campus. In lieu of flowers, Sue asked that contributions be made to the Sue Rauch Scholarship Fund at Willamette University, or to the Providence Cancer Center in Portland, OR.
Sue Rauch Scholarship
Willamette University
900 State St
Salem, OR 97301
In Memory of Sue Rauch
Cancer Research/Providence Portland Medical Foundation
4805 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
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