Kosman, Susan
On Tuesday, January 31st, 2023, Dr. Susan Marie Kosman passed away at the age of 61. Susan was born the youngest of her 5 siblings on April 19, 1961, in Brooklyn, NY, to Charles Spahr and Patricia O'Connell. Susan married Walter Kosman, Jr. in December 1982. She received her BSN from SUNY Downstate in 1984. A champion of lifelong learning, Susan received her MS from Quinnipiac University in 2009 and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Sacred Heart University in 2015.
Susan began her 35-year career in nursing as a pediatric nurse at Downstate Hospital, followed by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. During this time, Susan cared for some of the first pediatric HIV/AIDS patients. She then joined Aetna, where she worked for over 20 years and was eventually appointed their first Chief Nursing Officer. Susan taught and mentored aspiring nurses later in her career as an Adjunct and Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing of Quinnipiac University. Susan served on numerous boards, including those of the Aetna Foundation, the American Heart Association of Connecticut, Make a Wish Connecticut, Qualidigm, and the Quinnipiac Health Affairs Board of Fellows.
Susan had a passion for gardening. She enjoyed tending to her many orchids and took frequent trips to the New York Botanical Garden. Susan also enjoyed traveling to new places. Some of her most memorable trips included Hawaii, Tahiti, Vietnam, Cambodia, Ireland, and Italy. When at home, she was an avid reader and always enjoyed a good coloring book. Most importantly, Susan was a proud “Nana” and loved nothing more than time spent with her two grandchildren.
Susan is survived by her husband, Walter; her two children and their spouses, Vicki & Mike and Chuck & Erin; her brother Charlie and spouse, Lorraine; her halfbrother George; her sister-in-law Maureen; and her two grandchildren, Miles and Emilia.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, February 18th, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., with Words of Remembrance beginning at 1 p.m. in the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, Make-A-Wish Connecticut, the Connecticut Food Bank, or your local food bank.