Surry
Suzanne Reifers Judd, 73, of Surry died suddenly Dec. 30, 2020, at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. She was born April 30, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo., and raised in Lafayette, Ind., the daughter of James and Trudy (Barth) Reifers.
Suzanne earned a B.A. in communications from Purdue University in 1969, moved to Washington, D.C., and worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Equal Opportunity Commission. She then embarked on a new career and in 1980 opened Suzanne’s, a specialty food business, bakery, restaurant and wine bar near DuPont Circle in Washington. Suzanne was the first woman in America to operate a wine bar. Later in her career, she was the national sales manager for two small, prominent California cheese producers.
Suzanne and her husband, Alfred, retired to Maine, where Suzanne became involved in civic groups, most notably Friends in Action in Ellsworth, where she served on the board and as secretary. Suzanne dedicated many hours as a volunteer providing services to the elderly. Suzanne was a serious “foodie” and “cheesehead,” and loved her visits to France.
Suzanne is survived by her husband, Alfred, half-brother Walter O’Haire of San Francisco, half-sister Christeen Fischer of Corvallis, Ore., several cousins and many nieces and nephews.
Due to COVID-19, services will be held a future safe date.
Donations in Suzanne’s memory may be made to Friends in Action, www.friendsinactionellsworth.org, or P.O. Box 1446, Ellsworth, ME 04605.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin Street, Ellsworth. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordan-fernald.com.