MONTECITO, Calif. – Susan Stone Slater of Montecito and Greensboro, Vt., peacefully left this earth for heaven on January 22, with her family by her side. She had recently celebrated her ninety-fifth birthday with her loving family, a joyful celebration we will always remember.
Born January 11, 1929, to Sydney and Mary Stone, she grew up in Bronxville, N.Y., and graduated from the Master’s School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., and Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., in 1949. She met her husband of 64 years, C. Paul Slater, at their mutual employer, Time & Life Publications, and married in April 1951. Sue and Paul built a wonderful life together in Bronxville for over 35 years, where they raised their two children, Scott and Sara, and were active in numerous civic and community activities.
The family enjoyed summers in the Greensboro, Vt., lake cottage built by Sue’s grandparents, which offered many years of connection with Sue’s extended family. In 1988, Sue and Paul moved across the country to Santa Barbara, Calif., and established themselves once again in their new community, participating in both new and familiar activities. For the last eleven years, Sue lived in the vibrant Casa Dorinda retirement community in Montecito, where all who knew her recognized her gentle and gracious spirit, her encouraging words and thoughtfulness to others. Sue’s adventurous side was reflected in her many athletic and social activities, and she continued to make many new friends well into her 90s. She won many tennis championships at the Mountain View Country Club in Greensboro and loved skiing with her family. Active right to the end of her days, Sue was at the driving range with her son and in the art studio with her daughter in the week before she died.
She was active in the Santa Barbara Garden Club, the Music Academy of the West, the Valley Club of Montecito, and El Montecito Presbyterian Church. In the last several years, Sue re-engaged with the church of her youth and adult years, the Reformed Church of Bronxville. Reflecting the importance of Christian education that Sue and Paul valued, she contributed to a new Student Ministries Center in 2019. As a result, she became increasingly involved with the church from 3,000 miles away and watched weekly services online, a virtual church experience her community intends to maintain. She also helped the Albany (Vermont) United Methodist Church with a similar initiative.
Sue was predeceased by her husband, Paul, in 2015. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Scott and Karen Slater of Minneapolis and Sara Slater and Marty McDonald of Ojai, and two grandchildren, Tim Slater and his fiancé Laura Sollers of Denver, and Kelly Slater of Santa Monica.
A service is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, at El Montecito Presbyterian Church in Montecito, followed by a family service in Vermont this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Reformed Church of Bronxville, N.Y., El Montecito Presbyterian Church, the Albany United Methodist Church of Albany, Vt., the Fund for Greensboro of Greensboro, Vt., or a charity of the donor’s choice.
