Susan F. Kennedy

On Feb. 25, 2024, Susan (Rose) Fichter Kennedy passed away from complications after suffering a fall in Dec. 2023 at the age of 83.

She was survived by her children, Kelly Kennedy Hanlon (Brian), Jim (Melissa), Carol Kennedy Diamond (BJ) and Alex, 11 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

She was a loving mother, friend, and mentor her entire life, and will leave a trail of fond memories among countless many.

Born on Feb. 13, 1941 in Morristown, New Jersey to the late Daniel and Susan Kelly Fichter, Sue was the second of their six children. After moving to New York, she attended high school at both Millbrook Central High School & Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School, after which attending Russell Sage College in Troy, New York.

Graduating in 1962, she pulled up stakes for an adventure, and moved to San Francisco, the home of the DiMaggios and the Willie Mays Giants, before moving back east, to start a family. Her children were born in Brooklyn, Boston, Cleveland, and lastly, New Canaan, Connecticut, where she would begin her unique and accomplished professional career, all while raising four kids.

Chairwoman of a major local political committee while simultaneously writing a very popular weekly column for a newspaper (the ’70s and ’80s version of the modern day podcast), as well as an Emmy-Award winning ABC After-school Special (remember those?). Her exceptional writing skills earned her the prestigious position of a press secretary for a United States senator, as well as a new adventure to Washington, DC, where she lived for the next 25 years. From press secretary to an account executive at the largest public relations firm in the world, displaying her persuasive writing talents, she worked her way up to Senior Vice President. Once more taking a leap, Sue chose to showcase those talents at the Kennedy Center in order to promote the artistic skills of society’s most unique and accomplished artists, before being asked to return to the public relations firm, where she eventually retired.

After paying a visit to a friend in Shepherdstown, WV, Sue fell in love with the town and immediately made the decision to sell everything and move. Shepherdstown became Sue’s final stop in her long and wonderful life.

A life that saw her live on both coasts, and a little in between. A life where she worked in the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, and the former Soviet Union. A life where she got to promote the arts and artists. A life where she modestly worked with celebrities known far and wide, from Willard Scott, to Dominique Daws, to Stan “The Man” Musial, and even included a private lunch with Ben Bradley. A life where she wrote, and wrote, and wrote, which was truly a passion of hers.

With all of these unique adventures, Sue’s lasting legacy will always be the relationships she forged with family and friends, and while some measure fortunes in currency, Sue measured her success in relationships. She will be missed by many.

Services and interment will be private. Arrangements made by Brown Funeral Home. Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.