Susan M. Porter

Susan Marie Porter, 62, of Albuquerque, NM, passed away on February 9, 2021, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. A lifelong criminal defense attorney, she dedicated her personal and professional life to unapologetically advocating for others, both humans and animals.

Susan was a wonderful person to have as an ally and a dreadful person to have as an adversary. Brilliant and at times deceptively meek, she morphed into a crusader in the courtroom. She was humble to a fault and shunned any form of recognition or accolades. She detested pomp, pretension, and displays of wealth. For Susan, injustice of any kind was a personal offense to her to which she felt an obligation to respond. She was a dedicated mother to her two daughters and took great interest and pride in every aspect of their lives.

“Boredom” was not a word with which Susan was acquainted. She had many hobbies and passions including playing guitar, woodworking, outdoor activities, and experiencing life through the eyes of her granddaughter. She enjoyed traveling to her childhood hometown of Tybee Island, Georgia, and joined her daughter on several trips to Egypt and Palestine.

She is survived by her husband, Maurice Fitzgibbon, 62, of Albuquerque, NM; her two daughters, Stephanie Porter, 35, of Albuquerque, NM, and Hannah Porter, 31, of Ann Arbor, MI; a granddaughter, Georgina Garcia, 7, of Albuquerque, NM. She is predeceased by her exhusband, William Russell Porter (d. 2008). Her loss will be felt dearly by her family and colleagues and her memory will be an inspiration to all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, her family is requesting that donations be made to the Environmental Defense Fund or American Humane.