Suzanne Kemmerer Pinkien passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 16, surrounded by her loving family. She was 61 years old.

Suzanne was born in Columbus, Ohio and moved with her family to Jacksonville. She attended Terry Parker High School, where she made many lifelong friends. Upon graduation, she attended Ohio State University and Jones College, where she graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Suzanne was an avid sports fan and chose to work around sports of all kinds. She began her career behind the scenes in video production and editing for the sports segment at a local news station.  She also was employed at Information and Display Systems (IDS), where she worked alongside her husband, Gary. Suzanne loved swimming and carried that passion into the workplace by teaching swimming lessons and water aerobics to many local children and adults. In 1996, she served as a volunteer at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA, assisting with the gymnastics events, fulfilling a lifelong dream of seeing the US women win gold. She loved to travel and enjoyed sharing stories of all the wonderful places she was able to visit around the world including most of Europe, Australia, and even Russia.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Joyce Kemmerer. She is survived by her husband Gary and her daughter Leah, who was the light of her life; her brothers Pat (Kelly) Kemmerer; Andy (Stephanie) Kemmerer, and her niece, Lainey Kemmerer. Suzanne is also survived by her loving family through marriage; Cheryl Pinkien Saraceno; Glenn and Irene Pinkien; Gregg Pinkien; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and Godchildren from both of her families.

Suzanne genuinely loved people and had many dear friends that were an inspiration and support for her throughout her life. She had a kind and wonderful spirit that she shared with everyone she met.  Suzanne will be deeply missed and remembered fondly.

A memorial service will be held Friday morning June 9, 11:00 AM, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 523 Pablo Avenue, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250. Suzanne's family invites everyone to join them for a reception immediately following Mass at St. Paul's Catholic Church Family Life Center, 578 1st Avenue North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to Mayo Clinic, St. Paul's Catholic Church, The Arc Jacksonville, or the Jacksonville Humane Society.

Please send all gifts to St. Paul's Catholic Church, Jacksonville Beach or to the family home. Funeral home will not be present for services.