Susan North, 70, passed away Sept. 7 while vacationing in California. She had suffered a severe stroke just days before.
North was a staunch supporter of Michigan's LGBT community, serving on committees at Affirmations, the Triangle Foundation and others. In the 1990s, she became well known as the leader of a group of financial planners at Ameriprise Financial Services that specialized in the unique financial needs of the LGBT community – the first of its kind in the greater Detroit area.
North also shepherded countless requests from LGBT and HIV/AIDS agencies for financial support from Ameriprise Financial through direct gifts and event sponsorships.
Born in Laconia, N.H., in 1940, North was a graduate of Hunter College in New York. She was a computer programmer and author in her early life, writing 12 books on topics covering computer programming and New England cooking.
Later, North became a financial advisor and indulged her passion for art, entering and winning national art quilt competitions. Her work was displayed as part of a traveling exhibit shown in the U.S. ambassadorial residences worldwide. Examples can be seen at http://www.SusanSanbornNorth.com.
North is survived by her daughter, Sarah Lydia Sanborn North, sister Bonny Smith and 23 first cousins. She is also survived by her three beloved English Bulldogs.
No funeral arrangements have been made per North's request, as she bequeathed her body to science. Sarah North said she is planning a celebration of her mother's life and art in the Detroit area in a few weeks. At press time, details were not yet available.
The family requests that donations in honor of Susan Sanford North go to these three organizations: The Roeper School, Mariann Hoag Financial Aid/Scholarship Program http://www.roeper.org/donate; Equality Michigan http://www.equalitymi.org; and The Bulldog Club of America Rescue Network http://www.rescuebulldogs.org/donations.
