Susan Uhl Wilson's Obituary
Susan Uhl Wilson, environmentalist, educator and world traveler died in Miami, Florida from complications of bladder cancer on January 24 at the age of 90. She was born in Evansville, Indiana on October 8, 1928 to Robert Charles Uhl and Sudie Holmes Uhl Wells.
At an early age Susan, and her mother moved to Miami Beach returning on and off to Evansville. In the 1940s, they moved to High Point, North Carolina where Susan graduated from High Point High School. She went on to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she was a student in the Medill School of Journalism. There, she met and married John F. Wilson and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin where she raised three children.
In the 1960s, Susan went back to college and graduated in the top of her class from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. From DePere, she moved to Miami, Florida to attend the University of Miami on a scholarship from which she received her Masters in Biology. Before and after graduation, she worked with Art Marshall and Marjory Stoneman Douglas on preserving the Florida Everglades and the project to stop the Cross Florida Barge Canal. Susan went on to teach ecology for many years at Miami Dade Community College where she also ran The Open College program. She co-wrote the study guide for a course, ”The Art of Being Human”, prepared in conjunction with the BBC, that was adopted by over 250 colleges across the country, as well as the textbook for the course “Energy in the Natural Environment.”
One of her favorite teaching experiences was several trips to Nevis, West Indies, where she taught ecology. The governor of Florida appointed Susan to the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission (1975-81) and the Florida Water and Pollution Control Board where she passionately defended preserving the Everglades and surrounding lands.
Susan was an adventurous traveler beginning with flying several trips to the Colombian Amazon with her friend and great aviator Jerrie Cobb. She spent years traveling the globe and explored remote areas such as Mali, Cuba, Borneo, and Torajaland, Sulawesi. Susan was a first rate cook and in addition to exploring offbeat places would plant herself for a month in some of the great culinary cities of Europe; Paris, Barcelona, Seville and Florence to explore the food markets and restaurants.
Susan is survived by her three children. Sudie Burnham (Richard), Madison, WI, John Wilson (Marianna Beck), Baileys Harbor, WI, and Nick Wilson (Marc Demoly), Baileys Harbor, WI and San Francisco, CA; six grandchildren: Justina Carney (Jonas), Golden, CO, Shacey Petrovic (Nate Gubin), Boston, MA, Simon Burnham (Daniela), Wilmette, IL, Wilson Burnham (Candace), Los Angeles, CA, Sarah Block (Travis), Portland, OR, and Anna Wilson, Portland, OR. Susan was fortunate to have 3 great-grandsons Noah and Oliver Burnham (Wilmette, IL), and William Block (Portland, OR).
She is also survived by her long-time friend and caregiver Maria del Carmen Cruz.
She was preceded in death by her parents and dearest friend Meg Laughlin.
A private celebration of Susan’s life will be held in Door County, Wisconsin, later this upcoming summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Florida Friends of the Everglades
11767 South Dixie Highway #232
Miami, FL 33156
ACLU
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Miami City Ballet
2200 Liberty Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Florida Grand Opera
Doral Center
8390 NW 25th Street
Miami, FL 33122
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