In Memory of Suzanne Cluett

Suzanne Smith Cluett died January 3, 2006 at the age of 63 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Suzanne was born September 23, 1942 in Seattle, WA and grew up in Enumclaw, WA. She quickly set out on a life of travel and adventure that began at Mills College in Oakland, CA, where she participated in the Experiment in International Living, with stints in Ghana and India. After majoring in Political Science, and fostering her interest in overseas development, Suzanne joined the Peace Corps in 1964. As one of the early members of the Peace Corps, Suzanne traveled to Nepal with the assignment of teaching English. She quickly identified an opportunity to help women in Nepal and redirected her energies to helping form the early family planning program in that country. She met her husband Christopher, a community development volunteer in Nepal’s second Peace Corps group, and together they stayed on in the country to work with the United States Agency for International Development for another three years. Upon returning to the Pacific Northwest in 1968, Suzanne and Christopher were married and settled in Seattle. Suzanne began volunteer work with Planned Parenthood of Western Washington and was one of the first employees of the Program for Appropriate Technology and Health (PATH), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare in developing countries. She worked as Vice President of Administration for PATH for 16 years. Suzanne then brought her skills and experience to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as Associate Director of the Foundation’s Global Health Strategies Program. Suzanne was instrumental in relief projects throughout the globe from Darfur, Sudan and Aceh, Indonesia.

Throughout this time Suzanne continued her work with Planned Parenthood, from counselor, to Board Chair, to member of the National Board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Suzanne worked tirelessly on women’s health initiatives, ensuring accessible healthcare for women and children in developing nations, and securing economic and educational opportunities in places often neglected. She was humble in her accomplishments and proud of her family. She made time for raising her children by often incorporating them in business travel to far off places. She enjoyed hiking the Cascade Mountains, attending a Kenny Rogers concert, or savoring a glass of fine Chardonnay. Surviving Suzanne are her husband Christopher, of Seattle; son Nate and his wife Vivian, of Seattle; and son Jonathan, of Santa Monica, CA. The family will hold a private gathering followed by an open house at the Cluett residence on Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Suzanne’s Fund, c/o Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, 2001 E. Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98122; or by visiting http://suzannesfund.org.