Suzanne (Smithcors) Jack

Suzanne (Smithcors) Jack passed away suddenly and peacefully in her sleep during the night of Friday May 2, 2008. Sue was born in East Lansing, Michigan on March 22, 1949 and moved to Santa Barbara with her family in 1961. She attended San Marcos High School where she and Don first met in 1964. After graduation from San Marcos High in 1967 she subsequently attended Santa Barbara City College and U.C.S.B.

After college Sue started a small shop in El Paseo known as Zoey’s and worked in other local retail businesses as well.

Sue and Donald Jack were married in 1972. They have one daughter, Alicia Byrne who resides in San Diego with her husband Justin and their son, Declan. Following the birth of Alicia in 1977 she dedicated herself as a fulltime mother. She worked as a volunteer in both the classrooms and library of Montecito Union School and also was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for 6 years.

In her own quiet way Sue was an activist for social issues that mattered to her. In 2002 and 2003 she was a coordinator for the weekly events sponsored by Not in Our Name prior to the start of the war in Iraq. She also used her enormous talents as an artisan to create knitted and crocheted blankets for use by people in dire circumstances via various charitable organizations.

Sue was preceded in death by her mother Martha (Bartlett) Smithcors, her father Fred Smithcors and her sister Diane Healy. In addition to her husband, daughter and grandson she is survived by her sisters Betty Pierce of Tucson, Arizona and Joane Williams, also of Tucson, as well as by a large number of nieces and nephews and many other extended family members.

Following the death of her sister Diane in 2002, Sue took the opportunity to provide Alicia with a summary of her life story and her perspective a wide variety of issues. She wrote, “Death is not an ending but a beginning and if a person so desires, they can still ‘visit’ upon the earth after their passing. Loved ones left behind can still feel their presence and be guided by them”. She will continue to guide us.

In her own unique style Sue also included a request that “donations to charity (humanitarian, environmental, animal or educational programs) are preferred to flowers and fluff”. Sue was a voracious reader and she would have also appreciated contributions to the Santa Barbara Public Library.

In accordance with Sue’s wishes family members and people who knew her will be gathering at a local park this weekend to commemorate her life with us.