Susan B. Field Obituary
Susan B. "Susie" Field, 82, of Gloucester, MA passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her daughter Deborah Field, son Tylor Field, III and life partner Bob Heineman after a short but incredibly brave battle with cancer. Susie was born in Boston MA, the second child of Marjorie Saltonstall and Dr. Joseph Bragdon. She spent her early childhood in Milton, MA. Her family then moved to Mclean VA for her adolescent years. Her preparatory education included the Potomac School in McLean, the La Combe School outside of Lausanne, Switzerland and the Madiera School in McLean.
She attended Smith College, Boston University and graduated from Leslie College with a Masters Degree in Social Work. She was married to Tylor Field II, (Retired USN) of Portsmouth RI. They have two children, Tylor Field III of Glenville NC and Deborah Allyn Field of Brooklyn NY. They lived in various cities during his naval career including Key West FL, Philadelphia PA, Newport and Little Compton RI. During a portion of the time he was on active duty they lived in Naples, Italy where she became fluent in Italian in addition to French and German and learned how to play the flute.
After their marriage ended, she was hired as head of the art department at the Pennfield School in Middleton RI. She worked there for thirteen years challenging her students to produce beautiful creative work. During that time she developed a highly respected children's portraiture business. Susie had a great interest in architecture and construction. While living in Newport she renovated a three-story brick town house, and later built a vacation house in Barnard VT out of recycled barn boards and native stone.
She was an excellent critic of Bob's architectural designs. In 1995 she met Bob, and moved to Gloucester where they have lived for the last 28 years enjoying the richness of life on Cape Ann. Susie quickly became a well- known painter on Cape Ann working in oil, acrylic and mixed media and enjoying prize winning success at shows at the Rockport Art Association and Museum, North Shore Arts Association, Rocky Neck Art Colony and the Magnolia Library. She had a wonderful group of fellow painters who attended her art classes.
They met weekly for many years at various locations around Cape Ann and became close friends. Susie delighted in seeing the improvement in their work. Her lifelong love of music began at the Madiera School leading a madrigal group under the leadership of Jack Langstaff who later founded the Christmas Revels, a popular holiday festivity around the United States and Europe. She went on to sing with the Smith College glee club. After becoming proficient on the flute she joined a variety of chamber music groups in RI.
Bob was inspired by her playing to take up the oboe and they have played in chamber orchestras and chamber music groups ever since. She was an outstanding athlete in all sports but particularly loved tennis, sailing and skiing. She spent her teenage summers racing with her Aunt Cath out of Marion Harbor on Buzzard's Bay. She loved cruising the Amalfi coast of Italy, racing Navy boats out of Newport and cruising "down east" from Gloucester to Maine on Bob's cutter ketch "Arcularius.". She adored skiing, beginning at school in the Swiss Alps and later with her children and family at Suicide Six in VT and throughout New England, Colorado and Utah with Bob.
Her passion for caring for people in underserved countries included support through "World Vision" of children in Africa, Mexico and Guatamala.
In addition to Debby, Tylor and Bob, Susie leaves her daughter-in-law, Tammy Jensen Field of Glenville NC and grandson, Zachary Harrison Field of West Palm Beach FL; her brother, Jay Bragdon and sister-in-law Jeanne Veatch of Woodstock VT; sister Emma Bragdon of Windsor VT and nephew Jesse Buckley, wife Allison and grandnephew and niece Sam and Rowen of Somerville MA; sister-in-law Brenda Bragdon of Belmont MA; niece Caroline Bragdon and life partner Clem Francis, grandnephews Chandler and Caleb of Harlem NY; niece Molly Bragdon and grandnephew Marcus of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica; nephew Josiah Bragdon and wife Sugey, grandnieces Ella and Charlotte of Oakland CA; Debby's dear friend Jon Czekaj of Brooklyn NY; Bob's daughters Barbara Whelan of Steamboat Springs CO, Claire Heineman and Frank Martin and grandchildren Maille and Griffin of Seattle WA, and Melissa Rasmussen, husband David and grandsons Noah and Owen of Tucson AZ.
Susie's ashes are left in the loving care of her family. There will be no funeral service. A celebration of life with music, art and storytelling will be held at a date to be announced. She would appreciate any donation in her name to your favorite charity or Care Dimensions Hospice, Haiti Projects, Inc. and the Essex County Greenbelt Association. Susie's last wish for everyone is to bask in the sunlight and dance "The Lord of the Dance"!
