Susan Woodward Fine

Unpretentious, fun, gentle. Susan Woodward Fine died Friday evening, March 8, 2013, in Elmira, New York, at the age of 70 of complications from pneumonia. Born January 17, 1943 in Alice, Texas, Susan spent her girlhood in Dallas and attended Armstrong Elementary and the Hockaday School, from which she graduated in 1960. A strong student, an accomplished athlete, and a tender sister to both her physically handicapped older sister Jane and her rambunctious younger siblings Jack, Jan, Roger, Jo and Dow, Susan's girlhood was characterized by her strong and generous nature. But it was her intellect, confidence and sense of adventure that took her on a scholarship to Radcliffe College at Harvard University - from which she graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1964 - and through a Masters Degree and the PhD program in mathematical sociology at Cornell University, where she was a teaching assistant in the late 1960's and where her former husband, Terrence Fine, was a professor (and is now a professor emeritus) of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Choosing to start a family rather than complete a PhD dissertation, Susan nevertheless stayed active in the university community following the birth of her son David in 1970 and her daughter Jennifer in 1973, whom she treasured each and together as her greatest gifts. Susan is survived by her siblings Jack Woodward, Jan Woodward Fox, Jo Moore, Dow O'Brien and Roger Henry; her step-brother Tuck Henry; her former husband Terrence Fine; her children David Fine and Jennifer Fine Jilot; her nephews Scott Woodward, Benjamin Ramsey and Nicholas Moore; and her granddaughters Kaitlin and Madeleine Fine. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m. at Bangs Funeral Home, 209 West Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850, (607) 272-1922.