Suzanne Bradford (Sue) Mason, 84, died on October 11, 2016 of complications from pneumonia at Greenwich Hospital. Sue, a resident of Greenwich for 60 years was born in New Rochelle, NY to Ethel Mays and Robert Davis Bradford and is a direct descendant of Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. She spent her childhood in El Paso, TX; Helena, MT; Berkley, CA and Salt Lake City, UT.

Sue attended the University of Utah where she majored in chemistry, joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority, modeled professionally, was elected a beauty queen several times, indulged her interest in riflery, fencing and became a commanding colonel in the ROTC Sponsor Corps. She also met Fred Mason, a young artist enrolled at the University. They were pinned by their sophomore year, engaged in junior year and married right after graduation in 1953. The young couple lived in California and Newport, RI while Fred served as an officer in the US Navy during the Korean War. Sue worked as a travel agent and helped to found the Newport Jazz Festival.

By 1956, the couple had settled in Greenwich. Sue worked as a polymer research chemist at American Cyanamid as Fred was developing a national reputation as a commercial artist. While starting their family, Sue began a new career as a community volunteer that was to make her a force in Greenwich. Sue, a past president of the Junior League of Greenwich (1972-1974), was so effective in her many positions through out the years that in 1991 she was the first recipient of the Junior League of Greenwich's Betty Hinckley Award for outstanding service to the League and to the community. In 1993 Sue also was honored by the Greenwich Time's Louise Crisafi Community Award.

In 1978, Sue helped to found and serve on the board of the Greenwich Youth Shelter, which then became Kids in Crisis. She has continued to serve on its Founders Board up until her death. Sue chaired the fund-raising efforts and then oversaw the expansion of the facilities for Greenwich Adult Day Care at Nathaniel Witherell and the renovation of the headquarters building for Liberation Programs. She was involved in so many renovation projects that she named herself the vice president of hammers and nails, a fitting title for a girl whose favorite toy as a child was an erector set.

The list of the other organizations that Sue served in various positions represents years of commitment and speaks to her heartfelt belief that volunteering is the heart and soul of a community. It includes the Greenwich Red Cross, United Way, Children's Day School, Center for Hope, Group Living for Independent Elderly, Liberation Programs, Inc., Friends of Liberation Programs, CCI, and two CT State committees, the Department of Children and Youth Services Regional Advisory Council and the Task Force for the Deinstitutionalization of State Offenders. Once her children were grown, Sue added a part-time job to her busy schedule, working first as a consultant in high tech market research before switching to sales development for chemical companies.

Sue is survived by her husband of 63 years, Fred R Mason, her children, Randi Mason of Greenwich, Bradford Mason of Plainville, MA and Whitney Fried (Dan) of Los Angeles, CA; her grandchildren, Mason and Courtney Ziluca, Connor Mason, Elise and Davis Fried; her brother and sister-in law, Rob and Sarah Bradford and a nephew and two nieces. They
remember her as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother & friend, an art lover who collected pre-Columbian pottery, a gourmet cook, accomplished hostess and a bravely independent and determined individual.

A service to celebrate Sue's life will be held at the Round Hill Community Church on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Suzanne B. Mason Fund, Kids in Crisis, One Salem Street, Cos Cob, CT 06807 (www.kidsincrisis.org)