Susan Ryan Tribute

My association with Sue goes way back to Montreal Trust Real Estate days, long before Sue opened her SAR Group of which she was justifiably proud. A number of us went to work for Suzie after Montreal Trust closed down in Ontario and enjoyed a great time together at Village Centre Court. Never at a loss for words or a saying to fit every occasion, Suzie was always there for you. I always loved her saying, "Inch by inch, everything's a cinch. Yard by yard, everything's hard". In other words, the KISS principle. I've had to use that one many times in my life and have related it to many others who didn't know how to tackle a seemingly impossible task. I always related the source of that saying when advising others, so Suzie was never far from my thoughts, If there is a God and I know there is, Suzie's reward will be that her SAR Group will become the STAR Group, where you'll be able to look to the heavens at night and see a bright new star and know that that one's for Suzie. That will be her shining spirit continuing to inspire you. You also know that she will be waiting for you with a glass of fine wine, when you cross the great divide and see her smiling face waiting to welcome you to her new home, with the same enthusiasm she's always had. Suzie will never change, thank God. At Suzie's funeral, Mayor McCallion in her wonderful eulogy for Sue, suggested that we not dwell on how Suzie died, but on how she lived and what she gave to her family, friends and her community at large and that the torch has been passed to the rest of us to carry that on....a great message. The Minister who performed the funeral ceremony, also spoke eloquently and sincerely about Suzie;s life and death and again emphasized the positive and spoke of forgiveness. As much as no one wants to talk of Suzie's death and how it happened, the thought keeps occuring to me that Suzie loved Larry in a way that was beyond words. I'm sure, still does, as true love as Suzie knew it, is unconditional. She forgave everyone who ever said or did anything that might have hurt her ,as she only dwelt in the positive. I have concluded that this includes Larry. If we can follow Suzie's example in this final instance, I think we will have come a long way in our humanity and make her proud that she has had that kind of influence on us. Via con Dios, Suzie......you've earned it Girl. Lots of hugs from your friend, Jim.