Suzanne M. Wenz
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
1960 - 2026
OBITUARY
Suzanne Marie Wenz
August 10, 1960 - June 28, 2026
Suzanne M. Wenz passed away peacefully on Sunday June 28, 2026, at Long Island Jewish Memorial Hospital surrounded by her sister, nephew, and brother-in-law after a sudden illness. Suzanne was born on August 10, 1960, and lived her entire life in New Hyde Park, New York. Suzanne attended Notre Dame School and New Hyde Park Memorial High School where she graduated as class valedictorian. She then went on to attend Manhattan College where she earned her bachelor of science degree in chemistry. Suzanne was a Grumman Scholar and worked at Northrop Grumman Corporation for a number of years often commuting to work with her father, Frank, an electrical engineer. Always a scholar and a scientist, Suzanne earned an MBA from Adelphi University, an MS in polymer science and engineering and material science from NYU Polytechnic School where she was also pursuing a PhD.
Professionally, Suzanne held executive positions at Northrop Grumman, Motorola, and later Zebra Technologies where she retired.
Education was Suzanne's passion. She was a professor of chemistry at Suffolk Community College where she taught for over 30 years. After her retirement, she taught at Hofstra, Adelphi, and SUNY Farmingdale. She knew and cared about all of her students, several of whom moved on to careers in medicine.
She loved kids, but none more than her nephew Jake who she helped raise from infancy until her passing. Aunt "ZuZu" attended Jake's hockey games, helped with homework, and occasionally donned her goggles and lab coat to do science experiments with his grammar school classmates. She strongly influenced and shaped his own academic success.
Suzanne was also a civic-minded woman who served for years on the New Hyde Park - Garden City Park school board and was active in charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity and the Island Harvest Food Bank. In her spare time, she was an avid reader and music lover whose taste ranged from Puccini to the Grateful Dead.
Suzanne was a person of deep faith whose passing saddens all who knew her but allows her to go on to her reward.
She is survived by her sister, Christine, brother Eric, nephew Jake, brother-in-law Rob and, Orange Guy the cat.
VISITATION
Tuesday, June 30 7:00 - 900 PM Wednesday, July 1 2:00 - 4:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM
New Hyde Park Funeral Home 506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, NY
FUNERAL MASS
Thursday, July 2 9:30 AM Notre Dame R.C. Church 5 Mayfair Road, New Hyde Park, NY
ENTOMBMENT
Holy Rood Cemetery 111 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY
I am so lucky to have known Suzanne and enjoyed many interesting conversations with her at Suffolk CC. I will surely miss her. She was an incredible individual.
Goodbye, my friend. I will miss you so much. I am grateful that I had the chance to know you and call you my friend. I am still in shock, and it's hard to believe you're gone. You will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will cherish the memories we shared. Rest in peace, you will never be forgotten.
I'm sitting here this evening thinking of ZuZu and the kind, generous genius she lent to the world around her. My Veronica and Jake were in elementary school together. This is where I met Christine (CW) and Madam Scientist Zuzu. Yes, my memories of this time in my life are filled with School plays, Christmas parties, Science fairs and lots of laughter...I have the videos to prove it. .... And yes, Zuzu was at every important event in Jake's life. and especially at the Science fairs, and always in the background of some project that Jake was in the midst of. And let me tell you if there was ever a child at any of these events that neede…
I had Professor Wenz as a summer chemistry professor at Farmingdale State. She was so supportive, passionate, and encouraging over the 5 weeks, I felt as if we had made a genuine connection. I am saddened to hear of her passing. Prayers to her family and friends.
Rome, July 1, 2026
Dear Christine,
Given that I cannot be with you and your family for Suzanne's funeral, I wanted to share a few words of remembrance and gratitude for your sister, who had a profound influence on my life.
Suzanne and I began working at Symbol Technologies during the same week in 1998. I had just graduated from college. It was my very first job as an electrical engineer. A few weeks later, I learned that Suzanne would become my program manager.
I still remember my first impression of her during our new employee training. I immediately knew she was someone of exceptional intelligence, competence, and rigor. To be perfectly honest, I was a little intimidated, and I…