Birth: 1950 Death: 2024 A stylish bon vivant and spirited adventurer, Suzanne Engelberg seemed to understand from birth the magnificence of life. She traveled the world, delighting in old ruins and new friendships. She sought out the best art museums and cutting-edge restaurants.
She loved all things elegant, from anniversaries at the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur to her infamous collection of beautiful shoes. But what meant most to Susie through the years, especially during her 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer, was her husband, Jeff Appleman; her child, Sky; and a vast army of friends. Bed-ridden but ever the optimist, Susie was still scouting reservations and planning excursions when she passed away at home in Tiburon on August 8.
Suzanne Eleanor Engelberg was born April 11, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan. Her grandparents died in the Holocaust, but her parents, Annemarie (Annemie) Leschnitzer and Siegfried (Fred) Engelberg, were able to escape Germany and immigrate to the US. At Bagley Elementary in Detroit, Susie and her kindergarten classmates developed such deep roots that their friendships have lasted a remarkable 70 years.
Susie’s family moved to Farmington Hills, outside of Detroit, for high school. Fred Engelberg worked as an executive at the Shoe Corporation of America, managing 30 different shoe departments throughout the Midwest and no doubt sparking Susie’s love affair with shoes!At age 19, Susie followed her big brother, Steve, to San Francisco to experience t.