Sosamma Berger

Dr. Sosamma Berger (nee John, known as “Suzy” to most) passed away on October 19, 2025, with family beside her. While already dearly missed, we’re comforted by her reunification with her beloved late husband Dr. Nathan A. Berger. She is survived by her devoted children Joshua (Lisa) Berger, Dr. Ravi (April Sanfilippo) Berger and Dr. Sarina (Dr. Sammy) Elmariah, along with her loving grandsons Bruce Berger, Julian Berger, Quinn Sanfilippo, Kai Sanfilippo, Zayne Elmariah, and Aydin Elmariah, her dear brother Dr. Kunjappan (Dr. Vimala) John and brother in-law Dr. Melvin (Jane Haylor) Berger and numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 1pm at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel located at 1985 S. Taylor Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, followed by interment at Mayfield Cemetery located at 2749 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106.

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Family will be receiving friends at 17700 Parkland Dr., Shaker Heights, OH 44122 on Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nathan A. Berger, MD Scientific Enrichment and Opportunity Program Endowment Fund, a program that was established at Case Western Reserve University at Suzy’s request in honor of her late husband and shares their commitment to education and opportunity in science and medicine. Please visit giving.case.edu/med for more information.

Dr. Suzy Berger, an Assistant Professor Emeritus of Medicine at CWRU, successfully navigated a career as an accomplished scientific researcher who spearheaded advances in the fields of basic cellular metabolism, DNA repair and cancer biology all while being a devoted wife, mother, and friend to all who came into her life. Born in Kerala, India, Suzy began her personal and professional journey by earning a B.S. in 1958 from the University of Bombay, after which she emigrated to the US to pursue her passion for science. She earned a M.S. from the University of Puget Sound in 1962, followed by a Ph.D. in 1968 from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, PA where she met and married her one true love, Nate. Suzy served as research faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, MO before joining the faculty at CWRU. Throughout her career, she has authored numerous biomedical publications and served as a research mentor to countless undergraduate, medical, graduate, and postgraduate trainees. An excerpt of her biography was featured in Dr. Sylvia Rimm’s ‘How Jane Won’ (2001) which describes the lives of 55 women trailblazers and luminaries in government, science and the arts. In addition to her invaluable research accomplishments, alongside Nate, Suzy nurtured a loving and accomplished family of three children and six grandchildren. She was well-known in the Jewish and academic/medical communities in Cleveland for her amazing culinary skills and entertaining guests in numbers large and small on a regular basis. Despite her many achievements, she will be remembered most for her genuine warmth, unwavering generosity, and bright, welcoming smile. She will be dearly missed.

Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz -Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel.