Susan Martin

Celebration of Life

Susan Sayers Martin

August 17, 1946

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July 23, 2016



"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Maya Angelou



Susan Sayers Martin, 69, of West Chester, died peacefully on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with her loving family by her side.



Sue was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to parents George and Thelma Sayers. She spent much of her childhood living in West Chester, until her family moved to Golf View Road in Ardmore. The Sayers home in Ardmore overlooked the east course of Merion Golf Club, where Sue's grandfather, George Thomson Sayers, was the longest serving golf pro. Sue grew up helping with the family business, Sayers Custom Golf Clubs, which were made by family members in Scotland and sold in the United States. This exposure to the family business ignited a lifetime love of exploring her Scottish heritage.



Sue attended Haverford High School and became life-long friends with Carol Martin, who introduced her to her charismatic, older brother, Don Martin, who had just graduated from Haverford. Don and Sue had their first date on July 4, 1962, when Sue was a beautiful, wise beyond her years, 15 year-old. Don and Sue married December 18, 1965 in Havertown. Don and Sue went on to have two children, Chadd and Becky Martin, whom they raised in Exton and West Chester.



Sue had an active life. She loved staying home to raise her two children when they were little, and she also loved helping to run Fun Fitness in Exton. Sue's business career spanned over 25 years. She worked as an executive assistant at SMS and Corestates in Philadelphia, and then went on to work for Right Management in Malvern, where she assisted clients with career management and transitions.



Sue's life-long love of animals compelled her to leave the corporate world in 2000 and co-found First State Greyhound Rescue, Inc. - a non-profit organization whose mission is to find loving homes for ex-racing Greyhound dogs. Sue was passionate about rescuing Greyhounds and it was that passion that gave First State the foundation on which to succeed. Sue worked tirelessly, devoting eighty hours on any given week to rescuing dogs right off the tracks, coordinating fosters and adoptions, building a website, writing adoption manuals, running a kennel, and creating a store which sold "all things Greyhound." Sue and Don also welcomed several Greyhounds into their home, as members of the family and fosters. Sue's most beloved dogs were Lady, Buddy, Dave, and John-John. She showered them with love and affection.



Sue's love of all creatures was not only reserved for the furry, four-legged variety. She also loved her grandchildren, Owen and Abby Martin. Sue provided many hours of babysitting while they were young and considered spending time with them to be the highlight of her week.

Late in 2011, Sue was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Sue met this frightening diagnosis with dignity and grace. She altruistically agreed to participate in research conducted by the University of Pennsylvania on Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and related disorders in the fall of 2012 under the care of Dr. David Irwin. The support and resources of the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, as well as, the care of Dr. John Walsh; and Andi, Diane, and Dana of Comfort Keepers, was integral in providing Sue with a meaningful quality of life over the last several years.



Sue was preceded in death by her father, George Dunlop Sayers, and her mother, Thelma (Tillie) Whomsley. She is survived by her loving husband of over fifty years, Donald Louis Martin; her son, Theodore Chadd Martin of West Chester; daughter, Rebecca Susanne Martin of West Chester; daughter-in-law, Amanda Higgins Martin; grandson, Owen Louis Martin; granddaughter, Abigail Michelle Martin; and brother Bernard Sayers of Newport, New Jersey.



Sue's life will be celebrated at Hershey's Mill Community Center, located in Hershey's Mill, 35 Hershey's Drive, West Chester, PA 19380, on Sunday, July 31, 2016 at 11:30 am. The family will receive relatives and friends at 10:30 am in the community center prior to the celebration. Family and friends are invited to attend a luncheon immediately following the celebration at the Sullivan House of Hershey's Mill, which is adjacent to the community center. Please enter Hershey's Mill at the main security gate entrance on Greenhill Road (the entrance closest to Rte 352). Inform the security guard that you are attending the Martin memorial service. There are several parking lots surrounding the community center and Sullivan house. Please feel free to dress comfortably, casually, and joyously, as Sue would have liked.



In lieu of flowers or cards, we ask that you help to support continued research into Lewy Body Dementia and other Frontotemporal diseases. Individual donations, large and small, help support the valuable work of the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center.



If you would like to make a donation to Penn FTD Center in memory of Sue, your donation would be gratefully received. Donations can be accepted on-line at The Penn FTD Center Penn Giving Page or by check. https://socialfundraising.apps.upenn.edu/socialFundraising/jsp/fast.do?&fastStart=customTemplateByNameOrId&customApplicationNameOrId=PennFTDCenter.



Checks should be made out to the "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania". The "Penn FTD Center" should be clearly indicated in the memo line.



Donation checks can be mailed to:

Attention: Christine Ray

Penn FTD Center

3 West Gates

3400 Spruce Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Visitation

Sunday, July 31, 2016 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Hershey Mill Community Center
1500 Greenhill Road

West Chester

PA 19380

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