Susan Mandy Turk

Susie Mandy Hopkovitz-Turk, born November 7, 1951, San Antonio, Texas, passed away March 16, 2003, surrounded by close friends and family in San Diego, California. Susie is the daughter of Simon and Margaret Hopkovitz, and is survived by her grand daughter Kara Przygoda, children Seth Pryzgoda of Houston, Texas, Casey Pryzgoda of Washington, D.C., brother, Michael S. Hopkovitz of Staten Island, New York, sister Aviva Hopkovitz-Dunsky of Dallas, Texas, and her mother Margaret Hopkovitz of San Antonio, Texas. Susie, a first generation American, daughter of Holocaust survivors, graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, San Antonio, Texas, and received her B.A., and MSW from our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas.

Susie's career as a social worker started in the 1970's at the Jewish Family Service, San Antonio, Texas, where she was instrumental in resettling newly arriving Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union. In the 1980's she provided social services to the elderly in the Jewish Home for the Aged, Seven Acres, Houston, Texas. In 1990 she returned to San Antonio, Texas, and provided social services for a vast array of clients on behalf of United Health Care/ US Behavioral Health. The last three years of her life were spent in San Diego, California, at United Heath Care/US Behavioral Health. Susie's ability to relate with people of all generations endeared her to her clients, their families, and to her many friends.

Susie suffered many personal hardships, including her daughter's illness resulting in two liver transplants. Susie kept her personal hardships to herself including the fact that she was suffering from end stage kidney disease. Susie is an inspiration to her daughter, friends, and family, and will be remembered with fondness and affection by those who shared her too short life.