Susan Shefte Connell

Susan J. Shefte Connell

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Susan Shefte Connell, who passed away unexpectedly on December 12, 2023.

Susan was born September 23, 1950, in Chicago, the first child of Robert and Suzanne Shauman Shefte (both deceased). She grew up in the Midwest, graduating as valedictorian of her class in Hudson, Ohio. She majored in history at Allegheny College and earned graduate degrees from George Washington University and Simmons University.

While on a college choir tour of Europe, she caught the eye of a baritone whom she would later marry. The attraction was, miraculously, mutual. Susan and Barry were a classic case of opposites attracting. As recently as last week, she said of their relationship, “We just always have such fun together.”

She began her career in academic administration at Boston University, crossing the Charles River to Radcliffe College and Harvard University several years later. She remained at Harvard for more than thirty years, rising to a key position with the Vice President for Administration and, finally, as Director of the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture before her retirement in 2016.

Susan is survived by husband Barry Connell of Newburyport; daughter Anne Connell and her wife Hannah Winnick of Washington, DC; son Nathan Connell, his wife Alysha Conner, and luminous granddaughter Sloane Connell, of Wilmington, DE. Susan’s children were the lights of her life; they spoke daily, and she was ecstatically awaiting the arrival of two new grandchildren in the coming weeks.

She is also survived by her brother Dan Shefte and his wife Shawn of Chapel Hill, NC; brother Steve Shefte and his wife Wendy of Superior, CO. Also surviving her are sister-in-law Martha Connell of Mountain Lakes, NJ, with whom she loved hiking the trails of Acadia; sister-in-law and close friend Meg Connell and her husband Jim Lukens, of Amesbury, and by nearly two dozen nieces and nephews scattered around the globe, of whom she was immensely proud.

Sue was unfailingly kind to all and generous with her love, her time, and her wisdom. She made each holiday magical for those around her. She was always in the middle of three or four books. And each year she covered the windowsills with trays growing dozens of tomato seedlings to share with friends and neighbors, which she delivered with meticulous instructions on their care. In the days since her sudden passing, she has been remembered as a “deep well of comfort”, a “second mother”, a “lifelong mentor”, and a friend who “filled gaps in me that I didn’t know I was missing.” All who were lucky enough, by birth or by chance, to be a part of her world will miss her terribly.
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Susan was also deeply committed to the Newburyport community. She volunteer roles at the YWCA, League of Women Voters, Newburyport Library Board of Directors, and the Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women (NSRAW). We know she will continue to be remembered in town for her singular kindness, intelligence, and generosity of spirit.

The family asks that memorial contributions be sent to the Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women. In view of the holiday season, and two imminent births, the family will delay its memorial celebration of Sue’s life until the spring.