Susan Bennett Alters' Obituary
Susan Bennett Alters was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1953, the daughter of Max F. and Rose Bennett Alters, both of whom are deceased. She attended Pleasant Gap Elementary School and Bellefonte Junior and Senior High Schools. While attending high school, Susan was a varsity cheerleader, and a member of the chorus and National Honor Society. She participated as a reporter for the Centre Daily Times workshop staff and the high school yearbook staff. She worked her first job at Jay’s Tasty Freeze near her hometown.
Though always known by friends and family as an energetic, smart, blonde girl with a great
smile, not everyone is aware that she competed with 30 other girls for the title of Miss Flaming Foliage of 1970 at the Pennsylvania Flaming Foliage Festival, where the contestants were judged “on the basis of poise, personality and pulchritude,” according to a Centre Daily Times article featuring her participation in the annual beauty contest.
Susan graduated from Bellefonte Senior High School in June 1971. She attended Pennsylvania State University thereafter and was graduated with high distinction in March, 1976, earning a bachelor of science in Parks and Recreation. She was also a recipient of the Fred H. Combs Honor Award at Penn State.
While attending Penn State, Susan served an internship at the Miami-Dade Department of
Parks and Recreation, where she obtained grant funding for community service programs.
After earning her bachelor’s degree she returned to Miami with her college friend Polly Brannon, and she has lived in Miami since 1976.
Between 1976 and her death on March 3, 2017, Susan worked for the National Parks Service at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, Florida. Later she became licensed as a real estate broker, real estate appraiser and appraiser instructor for the Florida Gold Coast Real Estate Schools. She met and married her best friend, Roger Sunshine, in the 80’s. In 2011, she earned her paralegal certification from the University of Miami, Paralegal Studies Program and shortly thereafter became employed as a paralegal/appraiser at Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez in Miami.
Susan’s beloved husband, Roger Sunshine, predeceased her in June, 2018. She is survived by her brothers, Michael Alters of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Gene Alters of Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, Kerry Alters of Harrison, Arkansas, her sister Leslie Alters Armstrong of Evergreen, Colorado, Niece Nicole Alters, and Nephew Christopher Alters. Susan is also dearly missed by her sister-in-law, Irys “Sunny” Sunshine, her son Lee Cassell, his wife Kathryn and sons Zach and Bryce, her many cousins and high school friends, her work family at RMVR, and many dear friends and neighbors.
A memorial service followed by a social gathering will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 16 at the Van Ordsdel Kendall Chapel in Kendall, FL. Casual attire is acceptable. In lieu of flowers please consider giving the gift of life by becoming an organ donor. Say “yes” to organ donation when you apply for or renew your driver’s license or register as an organ donor with Donate Life Florida.
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