In Memory

Susan Janeal Arison - Class Of 1969

Susan Janeal Arison

                        Deceased Alum: Susan Janeal Arison- 1969

 

Susan with first husband, Jazz Musician Herbie Mann (photo is pre-2003) 

Date Of Birth: 11-04-1951
Date Deceased: 11-07-2016
Age at Death: 65
Cause of Death: Metastatic breast cancer
Alum City: Santa Fe, NM
Was a Veteran: No
Survived By:  Husband, Aaron Jones, sister, Charlene Roundtree and brother Charles Arison.

SUSAN JANEAL ARISON "Tell me what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life.” (Mary Oliver) An extraordinarily bright spirit soared into eternity on November 7. Susan Janeal Arison will be deeply missed by a diverse group of family, friends, acquaintances - from here to California, New York, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America and beyond - wherever her light feet landed, Janeal created friends, real friends. She had such an amazing gift for friendship but it wasn't just a gift, she worked hard at it, believed in it, cherished it. "She was a warrior for love," stated her stepdaughter Juliana Jones.

She will be deeply missed by her husband Aaron Jones, renowned photographer and cinematographer, who experienced the joys of a great, great love that commenced with a casual meeting in a San Miguel de Allende coffee shop and grew into a joyous gypsy life of traveling the globe, engaging with new people, and always, always, remaining in the radiant present. Her loss will be particularly grieved by her beloved "sista," Charlene Roundtree (Dave), her brother Chip Arison (Sandra), and her nieces and nephews. She will be equally missed by her stepchildren: Laura, Jeffrey and Claudia Mann whom she's related through her previous marriage to world-renowned jazz musician, Herbie Mann, to whom she was devoted for nearly 20 years until his death in 2003.

She will also be deeply mourned by her stepchildren through Aaron: Kim Renken, Andrea, Analice, Andre and Juliana Jones. Born in Cheverly, Maryland, in 1951, Janeal spent her early years traveling and educating herself around the world. She had a successful career as an actress in New York appearing in numerous television commercials. Though largely giving up her career when she moved to Santa Fe in 1989, she remained dedicated to performance arts, especially dance, teaching and sharing her passion with her many students.

In the last year, Janeal and Aaron created an engaging and personal poem reading series (which can be accessed on Vimeo and Facebook) that was shared with their many friends as they traveled far and wide. Despite the fact that she lived with cancer for fourteen years, Janeal lived life vibrantly up to her very last day. For her 65th birthday, November 4th, Janeal had planned a gala dance party; instead, two days later she died at home surrounded by many loving friends and family who believe her ultimate dance has lifted her into the starlit spheres. "When it's over I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms." (Mary Oliver)

Published in Santa Fe New Mexican on Nov. 20, 2016

- Submitted by Susan's husband, Aaron Jones on December 8, 2016



 
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01/06/17 05:12 PM #1    

Barbara Jean Godfrey (Morgan) (1969)

I knew Susan in elementary and high school, its no surprise she had a dynamic life because she was a very spunky child and a teen with lots of personality, and popularity.   Its sad to see our peers pass away~  RIP.

 


10/18/18 01:04 PM #2    

Joe Gililland (1973)

Found this online......Susan's first husband, Herbie Mann.  A fairly famous & popular album, especially since it featured Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers playing guitar.  Quite the cover, too!

They were married for 20 years until his death in 2003.


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