On May 17th 1939 Susan was born in Springfield, MA to a loving family consisting of mom Sally, dad Sayle, and big brother Richard.

As a child Susan loved to read and would devour books. She love the arts, music and the theater. She was not a big fan of either sports and straight up "hated camp" (her words!).

From Frank and Sandy Lyman Upon arriving back from Germany I found Erik a new man – in love. He had met Susan on an ultra romantic sea voyage. When we met this dynamic, deeply attractive, and dauntingly intelligent Susie, we knew that Erik was in another realm. From the College weekends where she took over salad mixing in our sink, to the long tal...more

I am Margot Purucker. My husband was Willy. Willy worked in the guitar department for 43 years . Susan left a big impression on me. When we started out getting married, buying a house, having a baby; money was tight. Eric and Susan invited Willy and me to their house for dinner. Susan served Filet Mignon. Frugal as German immigrants can be, I...more

John and I were newly engaged. We were visiting his family in Wyncote and were invited to have Swedish pancakes with Susie and Erik at their apartment. It was the first of so, so many delightful meals together in so many different homes, boats and places. Her gracious hostessing was impressive then. Erik’s pancakes were delicious with “real” maple ...more

Memorable dinner!

We were about to be married and Susie and Erik were so very happy that she was pregnant(with Steve) after they had lost their first child. She was radiant, but feeling queasy some of the time. Soso had a habit of smoking cigars in the car and she told me that she had asked him to “Please stop!” In no uncertain terms as it was making her sick. Susie...more

I remember catching an eel in a crab trap that we would use off the dock at the old house in Stone Harbor. In classic Aunt Susie fashion, she took the unexpected (in this case, the eel) and turned it into something delicious (bouillabaisse)!

Susan gave birth to her third child Richard (named after her brother). After a surprise rush to the hospital a week before the due date, Richard was born after a nail biting operation. Mom was awake during the Cesarean because she had eaten a big dinner (hot dogs and beans) and therefore could not have anesthesia. Richard popped out healthy and ...more

My brothers and I grew up far from the extended Philadelphia family. Because we often encountered ‘the family’ at large gatherings it was hard to get to know individual family members for themselves. However, that changed for me the summer that I turned 12. My parents had planned their first overseas trip ever, to visit Randy who was living with f...more

Memories from Betty and Jim Graf Most if not all of you have been entertained by the Zapfs and enjoyed some of the tastiest meals around. Susie was a gracious hostess as well as an accomplished chef. Our family friendship goes back a long ways as Stephen and our David were in the same class in elementary school, Rich and Tom while not in the sa...more

I have been missing Susie for a few years now. She energized those she touched, and for that, Susie was much loved by my family. My parents and Susie & Erik shared the excitement of newlyweds living in New York in the early 60's and bonded around it. Britsy and Susie shared an intense love of books and music... and they were politically aligned a...more

I first met Susie when I was dating her cousin Tom in 1974. They grew up near each other in Longmeadow MA. Susie was his only cousin in the Philly area and he moved here from Florida to work at Zapf’s Music. Susie quickly became a friend, mentor, and role model for me as a young wife and mother. She was smart, funny, loving, and generous. She ha...more

I had to pick a year for this, but this would work for just about any year in the late 70s and early 80s. When we showed up to the Zapf house for the holiday party, Susie would often be in the kitchen making sure that everything was going smoothly -- I remember hearing her laugh bubbling out from the kitchen as she managed getting food out while...more

I have so many fond memories of visting Susie in Stone Harbor, especially when her mother, my Great Aunt Sally, was visting from California. I remember sitting on the dock, swimming in the bay, and watching the sun go down. Susie was always so welcoming to us onso many different occasions, year after year. Because of her Stone Harbor holds a specia...more

The Zapf Family Christmas parties hosted by Susie and Erik were always a highlight of my year growing up. I remember enjoying the joy of the season, playing ping-pong, the carrolling, and the Lucia celebrations. It is amazing that the tradition continues to this day, and that I've been able to attend with Rachel, Teddy, and Harper. Love, Adam

"A" memory doesn't really cover it. It's no exaggeration to say that Susie was like a second mother to me. From my first memory of meeting seeing her (her opening the door to the basement apartment on Corinthian Drive with a big, beautiful smile) to the last time I saw her, she always made me feel as welcome, comfortable, and as included as an act...more

Drinking iced tea with Susie and Nana Sally out on the dock of the old house in Stone Harbor, with our bare feet up on the round red table, 6 feet all facing each other. At least every hour Susie would say "time for a dip in the bay". We would sit out on the dock for hours under those umbrellas.

A favorite memory is going on college visits with Mom who would of course have done tons of research and ask all the right questions. You could tell that Mom was reliving her college years thru her kids and was just as interested in our studies as we were (in my case maybe more:)

Painting your gold kitchen, including the cupboard. That was a big undertaking! Susie was so amazed at the transformation.

Receiving a phone call from Susie every Wednesday of the summer, asking what we should have for dinner that following weekend. The choices were always the following: steak, hamburgers, Susie's Italian meal in a dish, Chicken with Susie's Subtle Sauce, Corned beef with mustard and marmalade, or stuffed lobsters. We never discussed dessert because Su...more

Enjoying Kendall Jackson Chardonnay with brie cheese and crackers, while kitty Brie waddled around the cocktail table.

I had just met Susan's daughter Jenny in Middletown, CT in late August of 1990, 30 years ago, at our friends Tim and Barbara Jan's house. I was instantly smitten. Late that fall I met her family for the first time and was very nervous. I shouldn't have been. Susan was a lovely host and welcomed me into the proceedings without a second thought. She...more

Extended family Christmas parties at both Haddon Place and Stone Harbor, when Susie would say that I hid behind my camera taking photos of the guests.

Steve added too much garlic (or wasabi?) to the mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving at Haddon Place, and Susie immediately called him out on it in front of the 25+ guests at the table.... "Stephen... what did you do?!" Despite the arguably ruined mashed potatoes, it was hilarious.

Susie provided my father (her first cousin Tom), mother, brother, and I with a whole extended family in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. My father's family was mostly in New England, while my mother was from Ohio. I did not have many relatives in this region. Growing up going to Stone Harbor in the summer and Fort Washington for Christmas...more

Being gifted Susie's typed booked of all her favorite recipes at our engagement party. I still use this book and cook her favorites

This memory is from Nancy Nicholson: 1993 - My first family Christmas Party at the Zapf’s. Susie instantly showered me with her bright, sparkling energy, making me feel welcomed and loved. Following that year, we made many trips to Stone Harbor, where Susie and Erik welcomed us into their home unconditionally. We shared many great boat rides, me...more

Our wonderful wedding at my hometown church in Monroe CT, when Steve made a surprise grab at the pulpit for a stunning speech. The minister, Luther Pierce said that no groom had ever done that in all the many wedding ceremonies over which he had presided.

It's hard to choose a single memory because my Aunt Susie was extremely generous and always went out of her way share the things she loved - like good books, music, and food - with me. I'm choosing the year 1994, when I got married. Susie was extremely welcoming to my new husband (who loved her dearly) and she hosted a beautiful wedding shower for ...more

This memory is from Karin Wren 'll never forget the day Susie called and asked if we would like to sail in the Greek Islands for two weeks with them. What a wonderful time we had: Erik navigating, Jim at the helm, and Susie and me shopping, looking for restaurants and cooking together. The beginning of a special friendship.

We were on our way to Wildwood Crest one Friday evening In the early fall. It occurred to us that we had not seen the Zapfs that busy summer and thought we would drop by unannounced. ..just going to pop in and say hello, a short visit. We were warmly welcomed and asked to stay for dinner. This was not expected! Susie went out of her way for us,...more

Erik giving Susie a stack of library books as a Christmas present; goodness did Susie share some words with him about that!

Our sailing adventures together with Susie teaching me to use little water to wash dishes, shower and brush teeth when boating

Listening to Susie tell everyone about which colleges Steve, Jennifer and Richard attended, just like most proud moms would do. Well, maybe a wee bit more often than most proud moms would do.

Getting a tour of Susie and Erik's new Grand Banks, and being an overnight guest on the Grand Banks. Participating in the Parade of the Fleet, with Nancy Bohn's Frank waving to everyone on their docks

We'll always remember our wonderful week with Suzie & Erik in their charming cottage on Abaco Island, facing the Abaco Lighthouse. Exploring the islands, sailing, relaxing, and just having fun with great friends! Rho & Stu Friedman

So many memories of Susan from delicious dinners to "adventures" with Richard and Dixon. Our most recent was of your boat trip to Fort Myers, FL culminating with Susan filling your boat's fuel tank with water instead of gas .-

Pot Luck 'n a Movie, Stone Harbor, many years... When I returned to Stone Harbor with a new husband a decade after Erich Coche died, I remembered the wonderful family across the Lagoon from Erich and Juliette and me. A number of couples began meeting through the year for pot luck dinner, followed by a movie of our choosing. Susan and Erik added s...more

Oh how we wish my sister Lorrie and her husband Lin Pennell were still here to relay some of their stories! I’m sure they would be hilarious! We have heard about many of their adventures – sailing in the Caribbean, lobster feasts down the shore, heated political discussions, reunions, and many dinner parties. All of these activities demonstrate the...more

I will always remember Susan’s lasagna recipe. It always was served at Old Bag dinners. Our family loved it, still make it today and it was so easy to make compared to traditional lasagna recipes. I will think of Susie every time I make it.