Suzanne Heller Curtis

(248) 302-6768

Schulze

suzannecurtis@comcast.net

BS in music education from Wayne after a freshman year at MSU

I taught music in Oak Park and Detroit schools. Worked for Met Life as a Senior Litigation and Appeals Analyst for Sickness & Accident Benefits on the GM Account and then sold Life and Health Insurance and Annuities for them. I was the office manager for both The Depository and Ladies Day Golf. Was on Sen. Carl Levin's staff for two years doing events and fund-raising in his 1996 campaign. Became Executive Director of American ORT in 1996 and Business Manager of the ORT Resource Center at the JCC in 2005. Retired in 2010. Occasionally tutor beginners in computer usage.

Golf, theater, and movies. I've chaired a 45 member film club called The Movie Group (with lots of our Mumford '57 people involved) for more than 30 years, reading, opera, and ballet. Love to play canasta and Rummikub, but my great passion is traveling to exotic lands.

When I've taken a couple of Extra Strength Excedrin I still feel like I'm 60.

Ben Kaplan (engaged to Amber Baldwin), Rachel Kaplan (married to Vadim Avshalumov), Samantha & Max Stratton (engaged to Megan McDermott), Carmelle, Elana, and Jonathan Benishay, Ethan & Sadie Grossbach

Rachel & Vadim have a daughter Sonia and two sons - Jacob and Liam - my beloved great grandchildren.

I began giving piano lessons while a student at Mumford and continued through college at MSU and WSU. I earned a BS in Music Education and taught vocal music in Detroit and Oak Park public schools. While raising my four daughters I joined Hadassah, and became president of the Greater Detroit Chapter in 1973.
When I became single again in 1984 I went to work in the insurance industry, working for Met Life on the General Motors account and later selling annuities to teachers. Since then my checkered career has included being a manager for a few small businesses - including a women’s golf store - and a professional fund-raiser for Senator Carl Levin and for American ORT, where I was the regional director for many years. At 65 I became the business manager of the Hermelin ORT Resource Center in the West Bloomfield JCC. I retired in 2010.
My greatest pleasure, besides family, was traveling with my late husband Gene all over the world, and I’ve enjoyed visiting countries on every continent. I also love to play golf, attend the opera, theater, and ballet. I run a Movie Group of 45 people (many of whom are Mumford fellow graduates) that meets once a month to discuss films.

I had 23 wonderful years with my late husband Gene Curtis (we were fixed up by his sister, classmate Doreen Curtis Hermelin). We took yearly adventure trips to exotic places.

I now enjoy spending 3 months in Naples Florida each winter, and if you're down there January thru March, please look me up.

I loved being active in Fanny Brice BBG. I fondly remember getting kosher pickles out of the barrel at Fredson's deli and eating them while waiting for the Curtis bus to go home from school. Singing in the Mumford talent show with the Suedebs - a trio.