Susan Virginia Brinkley

Susan Brinkley passed on Thursday, November 14, 2024 after experiencing Alzheimer’s for seven years. Her loving presence is strongly felt.

Her physical presence will be missed by all who knew her; her son, Zak Shahvaran and her partner of thirty-seven years, Gary Lund.

Susan was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1939, the daughter of Maxine and Jack Brinkley, sister of John Brinkley.

Susan’s love for horses, cats, and all animals led her to work at the Bronx Children’s Zoo at fifteen years old. She received a scholarship to the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City to continue her love and skill in dance. She worked as an actress on stage in Chicago, owned a children’s boutique for clothes she designed in New York City, studied art and psychology in Chicago and New York and became a professional potter, a skill she brought with her when moving to New Mexico in 1982. Susan’s pottery was shown at galleries in Santa Fe, Roswell, Albuquerque and Silver City and won many awards at craft shows.

Know that you are loved.

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