Obituary of Suzanne T. Zamerowski

Suzanne Marie Tracey was born on Tuesday, January 15, 1946 in Trenton, New Jersey to the proud parents of Mr. Arthur Tracey and Mrs. Isabelle O'Loughlin Tracey. Her birth occurred within less than one year after the official end of World War II. Her father was a successful entrepreneur and a member of Sacred Heart Church in Trenton. Remarkably, he celebrated 100 years of life prior to his death in 2015. On February 3, 1946, Suzanne was baptized according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church by the Reverend Thomas Flynn and sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. William Hendricks at St. Mary's Cathedral in Trenton. She and her future son would become members of Sacred Heart Church. Suzanne and her two sisters, Marianne (Dr. Marianne Tracey) and Eileen (the late Mrs. Eileen T. Ziegler), were encouraged by their parents to embrace education and pursue successful careers. She received a Bachelor's of Science from Temple University in 1968 and a Master's Degree in 1979 from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1993, she earned her Ph.D. from New York University. Suzanne held a profound interest and resilient sense of curiosity for the field of health with a focus on genetic studies, which would serve as the foundation of her career accomplishments. She married the late Thomas J. Zamerowski, and their union produced a son, Thomas T. Zamerowski, Jr., whom many affectionately call "Tommy." Tommy was born with a developmental challenge. In spite of his disabilities, Suzanne and Thomas loved Tommy, their only child, and sought to provide a home consumed with love, care, and affection. It was Tommy's disabilities that steered Suzanne's passion to medical research and the education of nursing students on the disciplines of genetics and disease prevention. She would later be quoted as saying, "[a]s a nurse educator, I want to do all that I can to ensure that nursing graduates emerge as well prepared professionals in this era of genomic medicine and contribute to the promotion of health and prevention of disease." Dr. Zamerowski joined the faculty of M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing of Villanova University in 1979 and served on the faculty until her retirement in 2015. During her 36-year tenure at Villanova, she lectured on genetics and integrated this discipline with maternal-child health and other health promotion specialty areas with an overall dedication to understanding the role of genetics as a key determinant of health. Her broad contributions reflected her commitment to the arena of genetics. She continuously advanced her knowledge of genetic science toward numerous educational initiatives, modifying attitudes about genetics, and preparing competent nurses. She is the author and co-author of several research articles that appeared in various widely respected publications. In December 2009, Dr. Zamerowski was notified by the Genomic Healthcare Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health that she was named as a genetics expert and recognized as a national resource for nursing educators. In spite of her academic and professional accolades, Suzanne was unyielding in the satisfaction of her responsibilities of motherhood for Tommy. This became more apparent during the illness and eventual death of her husband, Thomas, in 2003. After Thomas' death, Suzanne continued being both a full-time mother to Tommy and a career woman. This zeal for motherhood and education continued through her retirement. Suzanne was known to many as cosmopolitan, chic, and avant-garde. Many of her friends and former colleagues remember her as kind, warm-hearted, generous, and a wealth of knowledge. She was an interesting conversationalist. She and her son were well-travelled and had visited parts the world including Europe and the Caribbean, to name just a few. Many admired her for the unbounding determination she held in being both an accomplished career woman and a proud and devoted mother. Her strength and tenacity were a source of inspiration for many. Later in life, she would be confronted with an indominable battle of her own, Alzheimer's Disease. Her friends and family struggled with watching what many refer to as "the long good-bye." Nevertheless, she fought, persevered, and struggled until the Lord called her home that fateful Thursday morning of May 14, 2020. The impact Suzanne had on the number of students who later graduated into the profession of nursing will continue to prove impactful to our world for many years to come. Quoting one of her students, "Dr. Z was beloved. She took personal interest in everyone of her students. She showed us the way to genuinely care for our patients. Dr. Suzanne Zamerowski is a legacy at Villanova. Her philosophy of hope and love for others lives on in each of her students and their patients." Suzanne is survived by Thomas T. Zamerowski, Jr., son; Dr. Marianne Tracey, sister; Tracey Ziegler of California, niece, Jeffrey S. Ziegler of California, nephew; Gregory Zamerowski, brother-in-law and guardian to Thomas Jr.; Mia Ziegler, Kira Ziegler, and Sloane Becker, grandnieces; and, other family members. She leaves behind a countless number of close friends, former colleagues, nursing students, neighbors, and acquaintances who cared for and loved her tremendously. Rest peacefully, Suzanne.