Susan R. Oppenheimer

Susan Rosenthal Oppenheimer was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 31, 1924. The daughter of Sadie and Eugene Rosenthal and sister to Eleanor, Sue was a champion ice-skater, winning her first medals at the age of eight. She started her freshman year at Wellesley College just before the United States entered World War II. She graduated with a degree in chemistry, finishing in three years in order to work for Edwin Land (co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation), who was developing night-vision technologies for the U.S. military. They included dark adaptation goggles, which allowed Allied pilots to land at night, without the benefit of artificial light as well as other optical devices used in aerial reconnaissance photography.

When World War II ended, Sue left the Land Corporation and began post-graduate studies at Radcliffe College. There she met Jesse H. Oppenheimer, a 1942 graduate of Harvard Law school. They married and moved to Jesse’s hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

After raising three children, Sue returned to her love of science and education. She taught chemistry and physics at the Keystone School while pursuing a graduate degree in counseling. She became more deeply involved in education policy during the 1970s when she was elected to the board of the San Antonio Community College District (now known as the Alamo Colleges District). For a time, she served as chair of the board.

Sue was one of the founders of the San Antonio Holocaust Program, which educated junior and senior high school students about the genocidal crimes committed during World War II. It was important to Sue not to limit the program to just the barbarity of the Second World War but to include other genocides that have occurred – and continue to occur – around the world. A few years later, she began teaching a wide variety of courses - from science to history – at ALIR (Academy of Learning in Retirement).

In 1963, Sue and Jesse established a foundation that dispenses gifts to local and international organizations devoted to education, health, art, civil and human rights, and social justice. Both she and Jesse were vocal critics of the Vietnam War and, years later, the US invasion of Iraq. A life-long Democrat, Sue stuck to small “d”, democratic principles her entire life, never hesitating to speak out. She participated in political rallies well into her nineties.

Sue served as a long-time docent at the McNay Art Museum where she especially enjoyed giving tours to elementary and secondary school students. For many children, it was their first exposure to the world of art.

Sue leaves behind three children –- David Oppenheimer (Harriet), Jean Oppenheimer, and Barbara Cohn (John); four grandchildren – Rebecca Nathan (Scott), Daniel Oppenheimer, Jacob Oppenheimer and Harrison Cohn; and two great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express gratitude to the many caregivers who helped Sue over the past few years (Mary Ann, Amanda, Sophia, Olga, Sheila, Mariam, Teresa, Dina) and to Amedisys Hospice. Special thanks go to her doctors, Dr. Mark Thornton and Dr. Felipe Navas, and to Florinda Gomez, for her exceptional care for the past six years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to either the McNay Art Museum at 6000 N New Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio 78209, or to any charity of the donor’s choosing.

To view a recording of her service, please click this link: https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/mf-fwp/pl/pl_20250820-oppenheimer.html