Shirley B. Suskind

Shirley B. Suskind, 84, of Cambridge, MA, formerly of Kingston, died Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at The Neville Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Cambridge, MA. Born in Brooklyn in 1930, Shirley was a daughter of the late Harry & Bess Haves Berman of Brooklyn. She was educated in the Brooklyn public schools, was ardent piano student who once played at Carnegie Hall and attended Brooklyn College, where she received a degree in education. She taught public school in Long Island, Kingston and Wilmington, DE, where the family lived after leaving Kingston. In mid-life, she moved to Florida and was a travel agent, traveling the world. Called "Shirl" by family and many friends who loved her up and down the East Coast, she was known to dominate rooms with her force of will, character and moxy. She is survived by her two sons, Lenny Suskind and his wife Laurie of Hollywood, FL and Ron Suskind and his wife Cornelia of Cambridge, MA. Four grandchildren, Walter, Wesley, Owen and Russell Suskind also survive. In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by her first husband, Kingston-native Walter B. Suskind -- son of community leaders Ben and Stella Suskind -- who passed in 1974. Her second husband, Norman A. Berney of Hollywood, FL, passed in 1982. She was also predeceased by her brother, Charles Berman. A Funeral Service will be conducted at noon on Friday, December 18, 2014 at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave, at 12:00 noon, with Cantor Robert Cohen from Temple Emanuel officiating. Interment will follow in Montrepose Cemetery.