Susan Faltus-Meltesen Passed away surrounded by her family following an illness on June 15 at her home in San Francisco. Susan was born on December 15, 1951 in San Francisco, the daughter of Rudi and Thelma Faltus. She is survived by her husband Jay Meltesen; her daughters Simone and Julia, and her sister Rudi Faltus. Her cat Willy misses her dearly. Susan had a happy childhood roaming the San Miguel Hills prior to their development as Diamond Heights. She was a graduate of Lowell High School and San Francisco State University. During her younger years Susan spent quite a bit of time exploring the world. She was able to visit China during the Cultural Revolution and spent time in Jamaica teaching and acquiring lifelong friends. After raising her daughters, Susan returned to teaching and spent many years at El Dorado Elementary School in San Francisco teaching the fifth grade. She was very enthusiastic about her profession and her students received 100% of her energy. Her colleagues and family grieve this irretrievable loss. The family give their kind thanks to the oncology team at California Pacific Medical Center that helped Susan following her diagnosis to continue living a good life. We also have great gratitude for the help of the hospice nurses that aided in the final transition. A memorial will be held at a date yet to be determined. Contributions to the charity of your choice.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on July 8, 2007
I remember Sue Faltus well, with great fondness and admiration.
In a time when all of us were questioning everything about who we were and what our lives were about, Sue seemed to know herself well. She moved with a kind of certainty that was unusual in such a young person.
It meant a lot to me to know her, and I will never forget her.
Sue's teaching carreer says a lot about her. As I remember it, Sue didn't "return" to teaching, she earned a teaching credential at age 40 or so along with 20-somethings classmates. After she was diagnosed with lung cancer, rather than taking it easy she taught a last semester, dying soon after. She was someone whose love touched a lot of lives.
Raoul Gruenberg (1969)
Joan Abrahamson (Abrahamson) (1969)
In Memory of Sue Faltus
I remember Sue Faltus well, with great fondness and admiration.
In a time when all of us were questioning everything about who we were and what our lives were about, Sue seemed to know herself well. She moved with a kind of certainty that was unusual in such a young person.
It meant a lot to me to know her, and I will never forget her.
My love and deepest sympathy to Jay Meltesen.
Joan Abrahamson, Class of 1969
David Fairley (Fairley) (1969)
Sue's teaching carreer says a lot about her. As I remember it, Sue didn't "return" to teaching, she earned a teaching credential at age 40 or so along with 20-somethings classmates. After she was diagnosed with lung cancer, rather than taking it easy she taught a last semester, dying soon after. She was someone whose love touched a lot of lives.