Sue Denise Hunt-LeMay

Novato resident Susan Denise Hunt-LeMay, (known to friends and family as “Sue”, and “Dee”) died on January 14.

Recently, members of the Novato City Council took time to acknowledge Sue’s work on behalf of the community. Terry Gillen, the Novato City Clerk, called her “an incredibly gifted and talented woman known for her kindness, generosity of spirit and humanitarian efforts to make our community a safer place.

Sue was admired and widely appreciated for creating and spearheading the efforts of Novato’s and Marin County’s “Social Host Accountability Ordinance”, which was approved unanimously by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in October of 2006. That effort evolved from her personal experience in suffering the loss of her son, Alexander Hunt Sampolski, who died in a 2005 car crash after leaving a Novato party with friends.

Under the ordinance, adults 18 years or older who host parties at which underage drinkers consume alcohol in their home are legally and civilly liable. When a party with underage drinking is reported or observed, police can break up the party and ensure everyone gets home safely, as well as issue citations to the youth in attendance and the property owner.

Since the law was enacted, Marin County deputy sheriffs have issued at least 85 citations.

The Novato police believe the ordinance has been a highly effective solution in the city’s fight against teen drinking. As of the end of 2018, every municipality in Marin County had approved their own version of the ordinance.

From 2006 to 2015, Susan became highly involved with the Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth, volunteering as an Executive Board Member and Chair of two of their sub-committees: Community Engagement and Member outreach. The group is made up of volunteers and organizations working in Novato to promote positive youth development, including bullying prevention, and to change social norms and environments surrounding youth access to—and use of—alcohol and drugs.

In 2013, the Marin County Youth Court recognized both Sue and her husband Tom LeMay in a public ceremony, where both were given an award for their multi-year volunteer efforts counseling young people and their families on behalf of the Restorative Justice Program.

Family, friends, the Marin and Novato school community and local officials have also publicly praised Sue for her tireless advocacy. The week she passed away, the Marin County Board of Supervisors adjourned their meeting in Sue’s memory, citing her work and efforts that have “saved many lives and will continue to do so”, according to Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold.

Among Sue’s other community-building efforts was the creation of an awareness campaign resulting in the redevelopment of Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato --the most successful affordable housing project developed in Marin -- with 708 affordable housing units. Her efforts established the successful collaboration between the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and project developers, with local, state, and national government officials. She also developed advocacy efforts for the “New Beginnings Homeless Shelter” community project.

Additionally, Sue worked at Ritter House, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin, Matrix Parent Network and was the current Grants Manager at Marin Link. She was also a behavior and training volunteer at Marin Humane (Society).

Among her passions were skydiving, swimming and photography.

Sue was born on August 11, 1961 in Camden, NJ to Susan Jeannette Jones Hunt and Albert Samuel Hunt. She grew up in NJ and received an Associate Degree in Political Science from Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ. She became a resident of Novato in 1989, after having moved to Marin County in 1987.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas William LeMay of Novato, her husband for 25 years, and two siblings; Jeannette Hunt Spina of Sewell, NJ and Allen Scott Hunt of Barrington, NJ.

A funeral service is being held for Sue on Saturday, March 2, at 1:00 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1180 Lynwood Drive, Novato, CA 94947. Contributions can be made to the YMCA Marin Youth Court, Marin Civic Center, P.O. Box 4988, San Rafael, CA 94913.

Services are being provided under the care of Keaton’s Redwood Chapel of Marin.