Susan Marie Hall
Oct. 19, 1940-March 14, 2019
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Ralph Cahn

Susan Marie Hall passed away on Thursday March 14 at her Palo Alto home from complications of Multiple System Atrophy (a form of Parkinson’s disease). She was 78.

Susan was born in Bakersfield, CA. to Jeanette and Eric Stone and spent her childhood years in Delano. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority and graduated from U.C. Berkeley, majoring in English literature.

She married Tim Hall, lived in Los Altos and had two children. The marriage ended in divorce. Susan moved to Palo Alto, worked at HP for several years, before accepting the job as church secretary at Palo Alto First Congregational Church where she served for 18 years until retiring in 2003.

In 1999 Susan married Ralph Cahn. They had nearly 20 happy years together, traveling in the United States, enjoying home, even as her health declined when she was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011. Susan was an accomplished folk dancer and Dixieland Jazz fan. She loved theater, a wide range of music, cinema and was a life-long reader.

Susan is survived by her husband Ralph; her children Betsy (Sandy) of San Diego; Tim (Dena) of Seaside; Ralph’s children Jennifer (David Fisher) of Brownsville TX; Julia Elman (Ian) of Santa Cruz; a combined ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sister Mary Ann Olson (Jim) of Carmichael CA.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on June 8, 2019 at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Road. Donations in Susan’s name may be made to Brain Support Network, P.O. Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026; or First Congregational Church of Palo Alto.