Susan Davis Heisler

I'd like the memory of me
To be a happy one.
I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles
When life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo whispering
Softly down the ways.
Of happy times and laughing times
And bright sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve,
To dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.

Obituary

Susan Davis Heisler, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully on May 17, 2025 at her Shell Point home in Fort Myers, Florida after a tough and courageous two-year plus battle with lung cancer. She is survived by George, her husband of 55 years, her daughter Sarah and her husband Jeff Eberhard, her son Tom and his wife Kayla, her daughter Meg and her husband Brendan Donoghue and six adored grandchildren, Adam and Lizzie Eberhard, Quentin, Charlie and Margot Donoghue, and Tripp Heisler.

Susan was born on November 15, 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio to Gomer and Jean Davis. Susan’s father was in the Navy and shipped out to serve on a PT boat in the South Pacific almost nine months before Susan's birth. She was not to meet him until she was almost one. When Susan’s father returned after the war, he joined General Electric and moved several times before settling in South Euclid, Ohio where Susan spent her very happy, formative years. She graduated at the top of her class from Brush High School in Lyndhurst, Ohio, and as an excellent student, was admitted to Northwestern University, concentrated in English, and graduated in 1966 after pledging Chi Omega, being tapped by Mortar Board, and named a princess at May Court. After graduation, she worked briefly in the Cleveland area and then moved to Chicago where she began work as an editor at Playboy Magazine which was, in those early days, a cultural icon that attracted readers for its literary content.

In 1969 a wonderful happenstance occurred when, at a friend's party, she met a young lawyer named George Heisler who was about to leave his corporate law firm in Chicago to work in Washington, DC with the new administration. Susan wrote her number on George’s hand that night and got a call from him the very next morning to meet for breakfast. They quickly fell in love and decided to move to DC together. Their love deepened as they discovered that they shared so many interests and goals and dreams of a future together. George and Susan married on January 24, 1970, in Cleveland, Ohio and began their lifelong, loving commitment to each other.

After they married, Susan and George decided to quit their jobs and travel for a year in Europe, much to the dismay of parents and most other sane adults who heard of their plans. Their mutual love of travel and adventure took hold as they bought a car in Germany and traveled from one country to another, sharing marvelous times along the way.

Maturity and the desire to start a real life eventually set in and they returned to their jobs in Chicago. Daughter Sarah soon came along and they moved to Winnetka where Susan and the family, now including Thomas and Meg, would live contentedly for 25 years. Susan continued her editorial work, but immediately began her lifelong participation in a variety of charitable, civic and educational efforts and all manner of committees and boards, including volunteer commitments at the children’s schools, service on the Vestry at Christ Church in Winnetka, the board of Episcopal Charities of Chicago, and the board of The Primo Center for Women and Children in Chicago.

Susan decided to further complicate her life by applying to Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business where she graduated in 1984 with an MBA in marketing (at a time when not too many women were getting MBAs). She became a consultant and then went on to become a travel agent to nurture her lifelong passion for travel.

Susan was a warm and fiercely attentive mother to her three children as she watched them grow and thrive in Winnetka. It was a bucolic time for the family and, of course, Susan also found time to develop and nurture scores of lifelong friendships. She had an open-door policy at our homes for friends and the children’s friends who seemed to come and go at all times. She was an excellent cook and hostess and had a warm, natural ability to talk to anyone and to put children at ease. Susan continued her open-door policy with her grandchildren as Adam and Lizzie’s friends were always invited up to the lake, to their then Chicago apartment and to Sanibel. Susan seemingly lived by the motto, “The more the merrier.” George remembers with fondness their Christmas parties in Winnetka where people had to stand outside because they ran out of room inside!

When the children left for college, Susan and George decided to move back to Chicago where she immediately settled in, refreshed her old college bridge skills, and helped organize and participate in book, bridge, and current events clubs all while making a whole new group of city friends. She and George loved adventure and with their empty nester time were able to travel almost everywhere in the world, but as soon as she returned from her latest sojourn, she began planning her next getaway. 

Susan was committed and loyal to her many friends, frequently gathering them together from various parts of her life so that each of them might become friends with one another. She got her Life Master designation in bridge, having great fun and playing with some of those dear friends who happened to be wonderful bridge players. She continued her volunteer efforts in Chicago with the Board of Episcopal Charities, St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church, the Board of the Parkways Foundation, the Chicago Humanities Festival and served on the Women’s Board and chaired a Gala for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

For 40 years, she enjoyed countless hours at the family lake house in Wisconsin with friends and family and particularly enjoyed cocktails and conversation on the patio, sunset cruises on the lake, and wonderful celebratory feasts prepared by the children and spouses. Twenty years ago, Susan and George bought a home on Sanibel, which became, like the Wisconsin lake house, a Mecca for family and friends to gather, feast, talk, laugh and even play a bit more bridge. She was devoted to BIG Arts, the performing arts center on Sanibel, served on its board and most recently became Chairman of the Board.

The last chapter of Susan’s life was filled with more adventure, travel, lively and warm times with family and friends, and perhaps most importantly, embracing her role as Grandmother Mimi. She loved traveling to see Adam, Lizzie, Quentin, Charlie, Margot, and Tripp and to celebrate their baptisms, birthdays, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Grandparents Days, and to cheer on the sidelines at endless baseball, hockey, and soccer games and rowing regattas. She shared her love of travel and adventure with Sarah, Tom and Meg and her grandchildren and took all of them on special trips which they will always remember. She had hoped for many more.

Susan loved life, adored her family and friends and remained active and curious all of her life. She continually read books, followed the news, current events and politics, and frequently voiced differing political opinions in discussions with her husband. She was decent and caring, had strong moral principles, was adventuresome and always enthusiastic about doing something new and interesting. Perhaps most importantly, she was a warm, caring and loving person who lived a very good and happy life and enriched the lives of her family and so many of those around her.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister, Junie Blackmore, and is survived by her beloved sister Barb, her husband, Tom and family, by her brother-in-law, Barry Blackmore (Junie) and family and by her brother-in-law, Tom Heisler and his family.

Celebration of Life Services for Susan will be held in Chicago at 1:30PM on Saturday, June 14th at St. Chrysostom’s Church (1424 N. Dearborn St., Chicago) Livestream Link:  https://youtube.com/live/IO5A_ZMVFkU?feature=share 
followed by a reception at The Racquet Club of Chicago (1365 N. Dearborn Street) VALET PARKING AVAILABLE

Gallery

Memory wall

September 30, 2025

Barbara and I are very sad to have just learned of to Susan’s passing. She was a kind, welcoming, and enthusiastic neighbor of ours in Gulf Pines. We remember her also for her very active leadership at the BIG Arts programming on Sanibel. She will be greatly missed for all of her efforts. we are thinking of you and send our deepest condolences.

Barbara and Tom Olson

Tom & Barbara Olson

June 4, 2025

Jay and I just heard of Susan's passing. We have such wonderful memories of the Yacht Club trip to Chicago which Susan so graciously helped to plan. Susan was beautiful inside and out, and we always enjoyed sharing pictures of our recently born grandsons. This is a huge loss for so many who knew her, and especially her lovely family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to George and the entire Heisler family.

Jay and Cindy Brown

June 1, 2025

I always felt welcomed and loved in “Mrs. Heisler’s” presence growing up. So appreciate all the Wisconsin and Winnetka memories she provided. I particularly remember her steering the boat and me tubing behind. And the brutal “circle of death” that would come if you’d been on the tube long enough: her making a tight circle around you with the boat and then taking off and me flyyyyying through the air. So much love to all the Heislers.

Britt (Maier) Metivier

May 26, 2025

I arrived in Chicago just after 911. Chuck and I moved into a condo on Astor St. Susan wrote a letter for me to The Fortnightly! We learned bridge together, went to lectures and Susan share her friends. Chicago became “home” for Chuck and I! Love and Prayers
Thank you, George

Ruth Watts

May 24, 2025

Susan - So many fond memories of our years in the Parkways Foundation Board, culminating with this wonderful trip to the Central Park Conservancy in New York in 2008. Your enthusiasm and joy is infectious and clearly we were having a great time! It was a fun and we raised a lot of money together for Chicago’s parks.
These are memories that are priceless. And help sustain us all during this time. Love to your family. Denise

Denise Stefan Ginascol

May 23, 2025

I worked with Susie at Playboy doing research and fact checking and became friends. She moved on and I stayed in editorial for 33 years. She brought Kate Nolan to Playboy, her neighbor and friend, who became my lifelong friend. Susie was smart and great company. When I knew her she was raising her kids as were Kate and I, and we were being working moms before it was unremarkable. I send my greetings and my sorrow to George.

Barbara Nellis

May 22, 2025

I will always remember Susan and her beautiful family beginning with our daughters' friendship at Greeley School, all the way to graduation at New Trier. Her elegant parties at Christmas, lobster boils at Powers Lake, our book club's trip to Santa Fe ("Put your hat back on!") and countless golden memories as we parents joined together to raise our beloved children. Thank you for being a good friend Susan.

Barb and Tom Maier

May 22, 2025

Ann and I are saddened and grieved about the loss of precious Susan. What a lady, fun, charming, pretty and smart as can be. Her daily presence will truly be missed but she will always be remembered and be in our hearts. Our love and prayers for her family.
Fondly,
Ann and Lee

Ann and Lee Cooper

May 22, 2025

I have so many wonderful memories of Susan/Mrs. Heisler from growing up Winnetka. She was always such a warm, kind and welcoming person.

My thoughts are with George/Mr. Heisler, Sara, Tom and Meg.

Ty Velde

May 22, 2025

I'm so lucky to have met Susan as we shared being newbie travel agents and her infectious love of lakehouse life was contagious. I'm luckier to have known her.

Ellen Feldman

May 21, 2025

Dear George &n Family
It was such a pleasure honor and priviledge to know Susan. She was so dynamic creative helpful and fun; she will be missed by so many with whom she touched. As you grieve, know Mlke and I hold you close in our dearest thoughts and celebrate her glorious life Love
Marilee & Mike Wood

chickywood@gmail,com

May 21, 2025

What a privilege to share our summer lives up in Powers Lake with Susan and her family. She was always curious, engaging, welcoming and interesting. We family adores Susan and we send our deepest condolences to all. Xoxo

Kate Moore

May 21, 2025

Susan will be deeply missed here at Shell Point.
Wray and I are truly sorry for your loss. George, you and your entire family are in our prayers. Susan was the Yin to your Yang..

Wray and Debra Hiser

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