Susan Williams Freudenheim

Susan Williams Freudenheim of Chatham, passed away on June 5, 2019, after an eleven month bout with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Susan grew up in Brighton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Simmons College--now Simmons University, Class of 1956. After graduation with a degree in Biology, she moved to Michigan to work for Park Davis Pharmaceutical Company on their version of the birth control pill. In 1959, she returned to the East Coast to teach science at the Nightingale Bamford School, a private girls preparatory school in New York City. In 1960, she went to work for Time, Inc., in their newly formed Books Division. She was a researcher on The Bird Book, during which time she met the famous birder, Roger Tory Peterson. In 1961, she applied for and received a National Science Foundation Grant to study for a Master of Education degree at Harvard University. During this time, she met and married Donald Freudenheim, started a family, and then went back to teaching science at the Dalton School in New York City. In 1968, a transfer for her husband moved her to Michigan for 12 years. Another career change then moved the family to New Canaan, CT. In 2000, Susan and Donald retired to Chatham and built their retirement home, where they had vacationed each summer since 1968. Susan had many friends and she kept very busy accumulating bridge points, playing tennis, and enjoying her passion for reading several books a week. She was also a member of the Monomoy Yacht Club. Susan is survived by her husband of 57 years and their three children including Monya Keane of Milford, MA; Carter Freudenheim of Chatham, MA; and Laura Downing and her son, Max Downing, of Wilton, CT; her brother, Thomas Williams of Naples, FL and Hingham, MA; her sisters, Kathleen Robbins of Hancock, NH, and Sally McFarland of Dennis, MA and Boca Raton, FL. Susan was predeceased by her sister Nancy Williams of Springfield, OR. A memorial gathering will be held later this summer in Chatham to honor her memory. Those who wish may make a donation in Susan’s memory to the Eldredge Public Library (TIN#: 046064571), 549 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.