Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality//Emily Dickinson

I cherish the hours spent in the B&N cafe, discussing life, love, focaccia bread, and everything in between. 

I hope you are at peace, my friend. 

Danielle was my lifeline for this past semester. With her kind demeanor and her ability to guide students with her obvious abundance of knowledge, I cannot fathom your loss. I will forever be thankful for the selfless acts of giving and kindness she projected onto me in such a short time. I looked forward to working with her again and will always have our emails to look back on and continue learning from her. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you know how great of a woman she was and how she was able to impact those around her in a short period of time. My thoughts are prayers are with you all. 

Susan and Richie and family. I was just told about your great loss.  So very sorry   I hope you find peace in knowing she is in a better place. May she Rest In Peace  she will be watching over her children and you forever🙏🙏🙏

I will be forever grateful for knowing Danielle. Her dedicated work with students, her continuous kindness, and the love she always expressed for her children was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege to work with her. There were many days where she could be spotted working patiently with students to make sure that they would be helped, and I will truly value the days where her humor and positivity helped me through difficult times. Our conversations between classes about the importance of writing and film revealed a passion that was only topped by when the conversation turned to her children. My deepest condolences to her friends and family, and her memory will carry on within the many lives that she helped. 

My condolences to everyone in Danielle’s family.  I remember her as such a funny woman with an amazing spirit, and genuine compassion and empathy for those who are less fortunate.   She was also an exceptional Learning Specialist because her expertise coupled with her ability to empathize enabled her to help her students to master academic courses in ways that they would never have thought possible.  Additionally, she was an amazing part of our Center for Student Accommodations Team, and her contributions will always remain steadfast in my memory.   Finally, I will always remember her wonderful humor, which always brightened my day.

Dear Danielle,

I can’t see through the tears, but I feel the cold, and so I know it is dark.  You burned so brightly and so fiercely, warming and lighting the world for those around you. I will always be grateful I was among them. You were an inspirational friend, teacher, colleague, writer, and dreamer. Yes, and a muse, too. I will carry your memory forever, and I promise you I will use, and share, the kindness you gave, and the example you lived. Sleep well.

(continued)
I can only hope that one day, Jackson will know how much she advocated for him and wanted him to experience and express love and glee as fully as possible. 

I will miss Danielle’s example as a mom (I also have four kids), a teacher, a fun and funny woman and most of all, as a writer who pushed herself and her classmates to “go there.”

To borrow a few lines from the Bee Gees:
“It’s only words 
And words are all I have 
To take your heart away”

Danielle-- you took our hearts away and we will always, always remember you.

May good memories of Danielle and her love sustain you in your grief -
-	Dana Wu



To Danielle’s family – 
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of knowing Danielle at Manhattanville as a colleague in CSA and as a MFA classmate. I mourn Danielle’s passing. Too young and so unfair.  She was striving and working so hard to balance all that she took on.  I admire that she went back to college as an adult, had 4 kids, working at least 3 jobs - a juggle.  She did it with humor and grace, with her big heart and her high-level skills. I saw it in her teaching and in her feedback to peers. 
She was such a good editor!  MLA titles, verbs, punctuation -  she’d say, “Hm.. I don’t know about that” or “maybe if…” as a way to suggest and be so perceptive with her comments to point out what was confusing or too big of a jump.  She was so complimentary about when the language/word choice was good but focused on the sentence level to tell me honestly - “Unfortunately, the line between what we intend and what the reader grasps appears to be much more difficult.” She was sassy and could be as full of straight NYC street smarts as much as quoting literature.  
I feel that we did “know” her unique voice through her writing in a way that you, her family, may not, and perhaps, the MFA classmates can assemble some of her writings for you to experience.
She was interested in psychology and her three fiction short stories – one about Lydia (spine tingler) and then she morphed it into 2 stories of Lydia as a kid then Lydia as a young adult in NYC  - showed many moments about family and love that she wanted to capture, and the horrors as well. She wrote about the poor girl Trudy and the rich boyfriend and rich girl nemesis  - tried to get the “true love” moment but we all said that Rick was a jerk. So she started over,  taking our suggestions and the challenge to get into the characters, get to the conflict, get to the heart of the story.  “You gotta go there” – and she did.  I am remembering the joy she described in Bubble Boy.  I can only hope (continued)


I had her as a tutor for a minute and she was so kind 

Danielle was an incredible person. She was the toughest person I have ever met but above all else she was an incredible teacher and mother. During my Freshman and Sophomore year she helped me more than anyone else. It was a tough transition period for us all but Danielle made it easier for me and always encouraged me to be the best I can. 

I am very upset about this unfortunate situation and I wish her nothing but peace. However, more than anything else I’m thankful that she was a part of my life. I can’t thank her enough for everything that she has done for me in the time that I knew her. 

Thank you so much Danielle, I will try to make you proud. 

I Love You 🖤 
- Tony 

I had Danielle Surico for college writing my freshman year of college. She was one of the only professors throughout my two years at Manhattanville that really cared about her students and her students learning. She always wanted to see her students succeed especially during the hard times of online schooling during covid. Danielle left such a lasting impact on me and really showed me the type of teacher I one day want to be. She will be forever missed. Rest in peace to one of the kindest people I ever met❤️

Danielle,  you were welcoming to me as a newcomer taking zoom classes from across the world. So, when I arrived in New York, I contacted you by email to see you and finally hug this wonderful giving person that I saw week after week through zoom. Although I will not see you, I will always remember you. I can only imagine you in a better place than me, May you rest in peace, my friend.

Danielle was one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She dedicated her life to her son, her work, her students, and her writing. Danielle was a brilliant and unique writer. She always stepped outside of her comfort zone and challenged herself with every piece of writing that she wrote. Her effervescent and enthusiastic personality was infectious. Her determination, her hard-working mindset, and her positive attitude were admirable.  She wasn't just my friend, she was my role model, my big sister, my mentor; she was someone who I want to be. I hope that one day I become a fraction of the type of woman she was. Danielle, you were an educator, a writer, an advocate, a friend, a sister, a mother, and I will miss you so much. I know you are there, looking down at me now, and I promise to continue writing and make you proud.

Danielle Surico was the most kind hearted and genuine person one could meet. We first met because she was my freshman year writing teacher, but our friendship blossomed into so much more. She was always there when you needed her, an open ear and shoulder to lean on. An amazing mother and friend. She has left an enormous impact on not only my life but hundreds of others. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. I will forever miss you my friend, may you rest in eternal paradise ♥️


I had Danielle Surico as my college writing professor. She was by far one of the best educators that I’ve had in my academic career. She had a true love for teaching and really showed that she cared for her students. She always spoke so proudly of her children and mentioned them in conversation during every class. That’s what made her different from other professors; she was so genuine and personable. She will forever be remembered for the impact she had not only on myself, but all of her other students. All of my thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this time. May she rest in peace. 

Danielle,
Where did you go, my feisty, loving New York girl? I marvel at how far you’ve come as a writer. I will miss your authenticity, huge, compassionate heart and sharp wit. Jackson and your older son were utterly blessed to have you as their mother. I know you’re laughing from wherever you landed. Please look out for us. I feel safer knowing you will. Good night sweet girl. 

OBITUARY

Danielle M. Surico

7 May, 1977 – 6 July, 2021

Whalen & Ball Funeral Home

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