Suzanne Szupiany

Suzanne, born and raised a Jersey Girl, has been a resident of East Lyme for over 28 years. Having met her husband, John, in NJ, an intense Giants and Yankees fan – sorry Boston! They married and went on to have their first child, Taylor. Shortly after, they moved to CT, settled down in East Lyme and had their second child, Jaimee. Suzanne was a stay-at-home mom when the girls were growing up, volunteered for various committees, school functions and fundraisers. She worked remotely as a Medical Biller for Psychotherapists and when the girls entered Middle School went on to work at East Lyme Psychological Associates for over 10 years.

Tragedy struck their family in 2014 when John passed away unexpectedly. Taylor was beginning PA school at Tufts and Jaimee her first year at Sacred Hearty University working on her Doctorate for PT. From such tragedy, we sometimes find good. Suzanne met Ann Dagle, an East Lyme resident, who lost her son a few years prior while in his first year of college. Ann and her husband Paul were preparing for the opening of The Brian Dagle Foundation /Brian’s Healing Hearts on Main Street in Niantic. The center’s purpose was to provide grieving adults a safe place to grieve and heal through support groups, workshops and private grief counseling. Suzanne was invited by Ann to facilitate a Loss of Spouse/Partner Group at the center. She received facilitator training and began holding Loss of Spouse/Partner support groups since.

Today she facilitates two support groups and appreciates the opportunity to help those who have lost a loved one, to have a safe place to grieve, provide support for others and work on their healing. In 2019, Suzanne joined the Board of Assessment Appeals Committee. The Board meets with all applicants who believe their property or automobile was incorrectly assessed, present any relevant information to support their appeal and the board then assesses, votes and sends written notice of its actions (reduce assessment or remain the same). Suzanne received her Real Estate License in 2016 and recently joined Coldwell Banker Realty in East Lyme. She continues to facilitate two support groups and is up for re-election this year for the Board of Assessment Appeals Committee with hopes to resume her position through this next term.