Suzanne (Sue) Marie Joanne Black, poet, marine biologist, political activist, community organizer, and friend, died on August 23, 2024, at her home in Half Moon Bay, California. She was 85.
She hailed from Cincinnati, Ohio, born to Alfred and Alice Black on October 21, 1938. Upon graduation from high school in 1956, she matriculated at University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelors in Political Science. Her interests shifted to Marine Biology with a Master's of Science from San Francisco State in the 1970s.

Ultimately, Suzanne found herself dedicated to the art of communication in the form of technical
writing, which became her mainstay throughout her life - at The Asia Society (San Francisco), Hewlett Packard and Finnegan Software. She was a published poet and led creative writing classes. When she retired to the San Mateo coast in Half Moon Bay, she became active with Senior Coastsiders,establishing the Creative Writers Group in the 1990s, which continues to meet post pandemic.

Her dedication to marine biology never diminished as witnessed in her avid participation, mentoring and naturalist contributions in the Snowy Plover Survey offered by California State Parks where she was a respected docent.

Best of all was her love for the habitats at Pescadero Marsh. She became a "guided walk" leader and would take participants from the middle Pescadero Beach parking lot, across the highway overpass, down to the beach, under the overpass and along various paths leading to the river's edge viewing spot. There, on a good day, turtles would be sunning themselves on the logs of fallen trees stretched out across the river. On the way, Suzanne would point out sea birds, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons. There would be mallards, tiny buffleheads and all other species of ducks and birds swimming and diving to get their food. She brought to life the "singing tree", a twisted Eucalyptus that little kids loved to climb on.

Of great significance was the Great Blue Heron monitoring program that Suzanne initiated at Pescadero Marsh. When she heard that monitoring of Great Blue Heron colonies was taking place throughout the Bay Area, she noted that there was a colony in some old Eucalyptus trees overlooking the far end of Pescadero Marsh. She set up her spotting scope and camera on one side of the marsh, and focused upon the trees on the other side of the marsh to photograph their large nests. She then developed and enlarged the nest photos to create numbered nest maps that were used by monitoring volunteers over the years - until a pair of American Eagles arrived at the Marsh, and the Great Blue Herons departed.

Suzanne inspired those of us fortunate enough to have met her as a shining example of conviction, independence, devotion to the beautiful aspects of Half Moon Bay, and passion for nature and one another. Did you know she was addicted to the original mid-1960s Star Trek Series, for its original theme of universal peace for humanity, respect for each other, politically correct messages, and living within a global ideology - rather than for sci-fi special effects? And that she pulled this all off with a contagious laugh, a subtle sense of humor and a wink of her eye.

Suzanne is also remembered as an avid tennis player and (not that these are related) she also dedicated a number of years in the world of antiques, having partnered in the ownership of a boutique in San Jose, with an interest in depression glass - and a home to show for it.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Senior Coastsiders, 925 Main St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650-726-9056) on Tuesday, October 29, at 1:30 PM. Suzanne may also be remembered at Crippen and Flynn Carlmont Chapel website: https://www.crippenandflynnchapels.com/obits. Please feel free to post your memories and pictures to be shared with all her friends.

And as she would want to be heard saying: "Write on!"
Bubbles

By Suzanne Black


we ran down the hill from the house
chortling like a flock of finches,
swooping and swerving as we loosed
a tide of bubbles from our wands
(do you remember)

I thought they were opalescent windows
into a thousand tiny worlds. I looked inside
but there was just no time to see anything:
the bubbles rose and vanished
(or did they)

people who live in bubbles
spend their whole lives hiding;
whatever it is, it will kill them
it's called death
(what kind of life is that)

they keep on rising, they float on the sea,
they sit on the clouds, earth drinks them
when they land;
matter is changed, not destroyed;
it is said we are star stuff
(I think so)

outside your window life still bubbles
your roses are sparkling with dew,
and in the dry creek
sleepers wait for the rain;
small things rustle among the vines
while the horned owls bide their time.
do you hear the tree frogs singing
(it will go on)

here, in capsuled in this room,
you are wondering
who will take care of the roses
why did your body betray you
(and all the time
you are rising).