Suzanne L. Nein, of Torrington, Conn., formerly of Sheffield, Mass., passed away peacefully at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital on March 8 following a long illness, which she so courageously battled.
She was born in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 23, 1936, to Virginia (Shrout) Strong, and Earl L. Nein. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, she graduated in 1955 from Miss Dougherty’s School, and attended the New York School of Interior Design. She moved with her family to Damariscotta in 1957 and together they opened their first restaurant, the Galley. After a fire, they moved to Barnstable, Cape Cod, and opened another restaurant, the Buttery, which they were busy with for the next several years.
In 1964, she pursued a lifelong dream of becoming an innkeeper, and bought the New Boston Inn, in Sandisfield, Mass., which she ran with her mother and grandparents for the next 20 years. She opened SuKa, a needlepoint shop set in the ballroom of the inn, with a friend, Karl Lescarbeau, in addition to running the inn and catering business.
After the inn, she cared for her elderly grandparents, then worked at Lambert Kay Industries until her retirement in 2002.
Suzy was predeceased by her lifelong friend David Good, of Sheffield, Mass., whom she met on Cape Cod in the 1960’s; a twin sister, Diane, who died at age two, and by her brother, Phillip L. Nein, of Wiscasset, in 2004.
She was an avid animal lover, particularly of Lucy, her Siamese cat of 22 years.
Suzanne is survived by her niece, Gretchen Bergman, and children, Charles Andrew Nickerson and Kaitlin Elizabeth Nickerson, all of Torrington, Conn.; nieces, Juli Suzanne Nein, of Torrington, Conn., and Sarah Kathryn Nein, of Wiscasset; and nephews, Johnson Earle Nein, of Boston, Mass., Jason Andrew Nein, of Boothbay Harbor, and Joel Garrett Nein, of Wiscasset.
Suzy was close with her former sister-in-law, Grace M. Nein of Torrington, Conn., and her sister-in-law Janice L. Nein, of Wiscasset. She leaves several great nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
Memorial service in June at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, in Litchfield, Conn., will be announced at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Cancer Care Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 1144, Torrington, CT 06790 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
To contact the family for information or condolences, please call 860-618-5711.
The Nutting-Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield, Conn. is in charge of arrangements.
