Susan Patricia Schober

“I want to age like sea glass, smoothed by tides, not broken. I want to enjoy the journey and let my preciousness be, not in spite of the impacts of life, but because of them.”
- Bernadette Noll

Obituary

Susan Patricia Schober, better known as “Sue,” “Susy,” “Mom,” and “Gramma,” journeyed from this life on September 10, 2026, held in the loving arms of her family. She was 72 years old.

Sue was born on July 23, 1954, to Alfred “Al” and Patricia “Patty” (Knight) Chant of Bay Shore, Long Island. Sue was the eldest of four children: David, Caroline, and Josh. The family Volkswagen Bus took them on many trips out West, to Maine and Canada, and to see stock car racing at Islip Speedway. Some of Sue’s happiest childhood memories were the magical days she spent at Grandma and Grandpa Knight’s house. Grandpa would put her on his knee and sing to her, while Sue would adorn herself in Grandma’s costume jewelry.

A graduate of Bay Shore High School in 1972, Sue played softball, sang in the chorus, and spent her allowance on candy and Monkees records. She helped raise her younger siblings so that her mother, Patty, could finish her college degree. She was involved in and inspired by her mother’s participation in the women’s liberation and civil rights movements. Consciousness-raising groups often gathered in their living room, giving Sue an early introduction to people who were challenging the status quo and working for change.

Her father, Al, played countless string instruments, including the dulcimer, and one of Sue’s favorite memories of her childhood was attending the Philadelphia Folk Festival with him.

Sue attended SUNY Fredonia, where an unexpected ear infection led to the need to take summer classes. Serendipitously, Bill Schober was in town, and the two met over a card game. A Peter Frampton concert and a kiss on the shoulder sealed the deal for the next 50 years of companionship.

They were married on July 10, 1982, in a backyard wedding during a heat wave. Sue carried yellow roses down the aisle, and her sister and maid-of-honor, Caroline, sang “Evergreen” on guitar. During their honeymoon on Frenchman’s Bay in Maine, they saw the most amazing Northern Lights.

Sue and Bill spent most of their lives together in a log cabin atop a hill in Wolcott, Connecticut. They loved being surrounded by the woods and tending to their gardens. They welcomed their daughter, Kate Elizabeth Schober, on December 23, 1984.

As a family, they camped each summer in Acadia National Park in Maine, fished their local reservoirs and creeks, and snorkeled the reefs of St. John, USVI. Sue shared her love of theater with Katie and took her to see shows from an early age, instilling a lifelong passion for the arts. She delighted in being a playful Aunt to her siblings’ children: Robert, David Jr., Michael, and Sophia.

Sue had a special relationship with cats and respected their independence and loyalty. Baby, Dylan, Alice, Patches, Idgie, and Ruth accompanied her through moves, marriage, motherhood, and retirement. Countless strays benefitted from her makeshift cat forts. 

Sue was a potter, a writer, a kayaker, a lover of all bodies of water (despite the temperature), and a packing extraordinaire! She loved chocolate ice cream, lobster, and her mother’s coffee cake. She was an adventurer and would purposely get lost to find her way Home again. She took the road less traveled, stopping frequently along the way to take in the views. She dreamed of writing travel and children’s books 

Sue worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Arrow Electronics, a global provider of electronic components and enterprise computing products. A respected leader, her colleagues described her as “an icon in the industry” and a mentor to many. She was dedicated to her career and could have continued to climb the corporate ladder but always kept family as her focus. She never missed one of Katie’s shows or a family vacation. She retired from Arrow in 2017 after 37 years.

After retirement, Sue and Bill moved to Rockville, Maryland, to be closer to Katie and her husband, Joe Kavitski. Sue had always wanted to be a part of the day-to-day life of her family, and the timing was perfect: Katie and Joe were expecting their first child.

On December 2, 2018, Sue’s “Beacon,” Joseph “Joey” William Kavitski, was born. Sue would walk over a mile each day during Joey’s first month of life to Katie’s apartment to care for him while Katie caught up on sleep. During Covid, she and Bill helped raise Joey for close to two years.

Time in Maryland was precious. Sue and Bill purchased a dream home with an in-ground swimming pool, expansive gardens, and a screen porch. She called it their very own park. They traveled to Assateague Island, Ocean City, West Virginia, and “Alton’s place” in Stanardsville, and took Joey on adventures to the Monocacy Battlefield, Kent Island, and “the Boardwalk.” Joe’s mother, Wendy Kavitski was woven into those Maryland years, joining for countless ordinary moments that became cherished memories.

Sue was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer in March of 2025 and did everything possible to remain with her family. She found comfort in the sound of her grandson Joey reading books to her, wading in her pool, and feeding the birds. She was not ready to leave this life. But she left it having loved deeply, lived adventurously, and made a place for herself in the hearts of so many.

Sue is survived by her husband, Bill Schober; daughter, Katie Kavitski (Joe); and grandson, Joey; brother David Chant and nephew David Jr.; sister Caroline Chant (John Saldi) and nephew Michael; brother Josh Chant (Suzanne) and niece Sophia; and countless other friends and family who loved her. She was predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Patricia Chant, and nephew Robert Arena.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Sue’s memory to Friends of Acadia and Manna Food Center.

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