Smart. Direct. Funny

Smart. Direct. Funny.

Simple words, but the ones that keep coming to mind when I think about Sue. Someone I consider a great mentor and friend.

The first time I met her was in the parking lot of my high school when she came for a school visit. I was in my Willamette sweatshirt and she immediately thought I was nuts. During her session with my classmates in the school library, she eventually asked me to be quiet or leave because I kept filling in details about Willamette (I knew I was going).  It wasn’t the last time she got irritated with me and filled me in on why. In the following years she gave me an earful when I:

- didn’t produce enough foam for her latte in the Bistro

- subcontracted my work study job out to some full-time employees

- let a legally blind person drive the admission car in the Sparks parking lot

- forgot to clean up her house after house sitting when I was a senior

- gave a really bad speech – when everyone else raved, she and I knew it stunk and she pointed out all the problems and why it was awful

She taught me the value of being direct with others.  Being honest, always loyal.  Her humor was infectious.  On days I worked hard for her in the admission office, I know she worked harder – interviewed more prospects, read more files – and documented and synthesized all of the information in a much more coherent and useful way than any of the rest of us.

She always checked in, danced with me at my wedding, sold me her car – interest free – and always gave me a place to crash when I came back to Salem.  She was one of the best that Willamette ever produced – a true friend, a treasure and someone that I already miss.

Chris Simmons 

Prospective student, enrolled student, work study student, 
house sitter, employee, colleague, admirer, friend OF Sue