SPRINGFIELD, VT — Susan Tubman Hall headed off on her next great adventure on December 22, 2019, in Springfield, Vermont. She passed away at Springfield Health and Rehabilitation, where she was well cared for and loved by other residents, and staff, alike.
Susan was born on July 21, 1943, in Racine, Wisconsin, to Harold and Evelyn Tubman. She is survived by her husband, Tom, and their four children, Andrew, Amalia, Abigail, and Natalie. She has two surviving grandsons, Harper and Trevor, who were endless sources of great joy and delight for her. Susan has two surviving nephews, Jim and John Tubman, who reside in Wisconsin.
Growing up in Racine, Susan lived with her parents and older brother, Don, until graduating from Washington Park High in 1961. She attended Grinnell College, studying English Literature and graduating in 1965. While at Grinnell, Susan’s passion for social justice ignited. Susan and Tom had met in high school, and in 1967 they married. After signing up with the VISTA program, they moved to Springfield, Vermont where they opened and taught at a school for adults with disabilities. Susan was an attentive and caring stay-at-home mom to her four adopted children, where she honed her baking, crafting, sewing, knitting, spinning, weaving, storytelling, singing, and homemaking skills while providing a rich and nurturing childhood experience for her children.
As her children grew older, Susan decided to return to work as an elementary reading teacher and librarian in the Springfield School District. She had a fierce belief in the power of literacy to improve positive outcomes for children and loved her work deeply. Countless students gained lifelong confidence through their work with her. Susan also supported and volunteered for the Santa Claus Club, a program that provides books for children in need at Christmastime.
Susan was adept at appreciating the simple things in life. She loved celebrations of all kinds, and her favorite holiday was Christmas. Beginning with Advent and lasting through Twelfth Night, the Hall House was ripe with special holiday traditions and treats. The magic and wonder this exuberance for celebration created for her family will be forever treasured and passed on to future generations in her honor.
Susan will be remembered for her unparalleled kindness, grounded nature, sharp intelligence, and unwavering positive outlook on life. Those who knew her can likely picture her wide, easy smile, and hear her joyous musical laugh. And perhaps the smell of a batch of her legendary muffins, still warm, comes wafting from the basket on her arm. The positive impact Susan has left on her family and community cannot be overstated. She will be sorely missed. With elegant serendipity, the day of Susan’s passing, December 22, was the first day of Yule, which celebrates the return of the sun.
A celebration of Susan’s brilliant life is planned for the summer of 2020.