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Christopher Anne Suczek, a professor emeritus of geology at Western Washington University, passed away April 10, 2014, at her home in Bellingham. Suczek, who had been ill with pancreatic cancer, retired from active faculty March 31 after nearly 40 years at the university.

To hear her colleagues tell it, Suczek was a lover of the outdoors, passionate about the world around her and about spending time in it. She was most excited when she’d talk about spending time geology field camp, and she could do it for hours, said George Mariz, a history professor at Western.

She was a straight-shooter. A lover of the color orange. A hater of her computer. She was dedicated to teaching, to research, to service, to students.

“She was an outstanding teacher and mentor, and her students meant quite a lot to her,” said Bernie Housen, current chair of the �������� Geology Department.

Suczek was hired as an assistant professor in the �������� Geology Department in 1977. She was promoted to associate professor in 1982 and to professor in 2011. She was promoted to professor emeritus upon her retirement.

“Her commitment to quality education is reflected in the long-term legacy of accomplished undergraduate and graduate students who have completed degrees through the �������� Geology Department,” wrote department chair Bernie Housen in a letter asking that Suczek be granted emeritus status. “Most importantly, she has been a consistent, supporting, and demanding mentor for female students and faculty at ��������.”

Mariz recalled the first time he met Suczek, unassuming in jeans, boots and a flannel shirt. She'd just come in from doing some "outdoor stuff," Mariz said.

“You could tell right away that you were dealing with someone who was frank,” he said. “She was thoughtful but frank. What impressed me was just how direct she was.”

She spoke her mind without guile or subterfuge, Mariz added.

“I never heard a spiteful or mean-spirited word out of her,” he said. “Ever.”

Mariz and Suczek served together for many years on the �������� Faculty Senate Executive Committee. Suczek was a two-term Faculty Senate president and served as a Senate member for two decades.
Hers was an impressive record of service to the university, said �������� chemistry professor Spencer Anthony-Cahill, who worked with Suczek on various faculty committees.

“She did more than her share, and she did it diligently,” he said. “I consider her to be a mentor in service to me.”

The Faculty Senate president-elect, Anthony-Cahill said Suczek inspired him to service.

“My willingness to serve as the Faculty Senate president next year can be directly attributed to Chris Suczek,” he said.

Mariz recalls with fondness the way Suczek would argue her point at Faculty Senate meetings.

“You could always count on her for reasonableness and breadth,” he said. “She never had an opinion on any academic matter, that I ever saw, that was not carefully thought out.”

Anna Carey, director of New Student Services / Family Outreach, was a good friend of Suczek’s. The two first started spending time together when they'd go to dinner before �������� performing arts events. They enjoyed trying out new restaurants together and engaging in conversation, Carey said. They also wanted to help ensure Suczek showed up to the performances on time.

“She was always late,” Carey said with a laugh. “You had to tell her you were leaving at 6 to make it out the door by 6:15 or 6:30.”

She had taken a leave of absence about a year ago to deal with the cancer, but she'd still drop by the department frequently to check in with her colleagues and students.

"Chris was a standout researcher and a terrific teacher," Carey said. "She certainly epitomized the love of teaching."

She didn't like to waste time, either, her friends said. That's the way she was: matter-of-fact about her illness and using the time she had to make the future easier for others.

“My wife and I miss her,” Mariz said. “And we will continue to miss her.”

Suczek was born in Detroit on Sept. 6, 1942, to Robert F. and Barbara Haining Suczek. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when she was about 5 and grew up in Berkeley and Lafayette, Calif., .

She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 1972 and went on to earn her doctorate, also in geology, from Stanford University in 1977.

She is survived by her son, Patrick Muir Scheible; her granddaughter, Margaret Scheible; and brothers Peter, Thomas and William Suczek. A memorial celebration is being planned for May 10 in Bellingham. For more information and to send condolences, contact Patrick Scheible at 7506 44th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98115; email: kkt@zipcon.com.

Suczek wasn't able to attend the party held in honor of her and a few of her colleagues' retirement in March, so some folks in the department .