Jan. 19, 1939 – Dec. 31, 2020
It is with profound sadness but also very grateful hearts that we watched Suzy pass peacefully from 2020 into eternity on New Year’s Eve from complications of COVID-19. There are not enough words to express the faith, love and impact she made. Born in Los Angeles to Clifton and Margaret Capps, Suzy attended Marlborough School where she formed lifelong friendships with many of her “Marlborough girl” with whom she would still gather several times each year. Following high school, she attended the University of Southern California as a proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority. After two years studying psychology, Suzy left USC to attend the Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles where she furthered her lifelong passion for art. After graduation, she pursued another passion of hers by taking classes in archeology at the Otis Art Institute.
Suzy married in 1959 to Donald Warren Crowell (deceased in 2004, lived in Hancock Park) and moved to San Marino in 1965. She is the proud mother of Donald Crowell, Jr. (Gabriela) and Andrew E. Crowell (Keri), and grandmother of four: Kristofer Warren, Emily Ann, Thomas Andrew and Christine Elizabeth.
When Don and Andrew were youngsters, Suzy took art lessons and served as an art docent giving walking tours in the historic Downtown Los Angeles Olvera Street area. Later, Suzy would turn her attentions to the city she loved, San Marino. Suzy served on the City Council for San Marino eight years, including mayor for two. Subsequent to her time on the council, Suzy served as the Legislative Liaison to Sacramento.
Fulfilling a vision which she and her late husband had shared, Suzy cut the ribbon at the new Crowell Public Library in 2008. Suzy also reconnected the Crowell family to Biola University and similarly helped found the Crowell School of Business in April 2007.
A woman of deep Christian faith and prayer, Suzy would gather regularly with a group of community Christians who would pray for the city and its leaders. Suzy affectionately called these prayer warriors, “The San Marino Saints.”
Suzy served on numerous boards and in various capacities just a few of which were Huntington Memorial Hospital, Harvest Evangelism and the University Kidney Research Organization (UKRO). She served as Vice President of Billy Graham Crusade, Pasadena, and was a member of the Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital. Her accolades were numerous: Distinguished Citizen, San Gabriel Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, Citizen of the Year, SM Republican Club, California Senate Woman of the Year, Honorary Paul Harris Fellow and San Marino Rotary Club.
During her last 10 years, Suzy experienced a variety of health challenges beginning with kidney failure that led to a subsequent transplant from an angel in Hawaii named Kats Anderson whose perfect match enabled Suzy to live eight years dialysis-free and watch her four grandchildren grow into young adults. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, and photos of them surrounded her always. Regrettably, Suzy’s legs began to fail her, so she spent her last years in a wheelchair, but even that did not prove to be much of a hindrance as she embarked on a new project with her close friend J.D. Hornberger in restarting the iconic Port o’ Call in the Mission District. Suzy cherished spending time in the store, helping create displays and seeing her friends in the community who would routinely visit her there.
Team of nurses … Fight on.
A private family graveside burial will take place in February with a separate celebration of life to be scheduled later in 2021 when it is safe to do so. In lieu of flowers, the family would request a donation to the Suzanne Crowell Memorial Fund of the University Kidney Research Organization, 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Ste. 1750, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
