Susan Stryker Mihm

Susan Stryker Mihm died unexpectedly of natural causes in her home on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Susan, known to all as “Susie”, was adored and adorable. She delighted her children and grandchildren with her inquisitive mind and fun-loving spirit. Susie remained curious and engaged with life until the very end.

Susan Holmes Stryker was born on November 9, 1936 in Pittsburgh, PA to Walter Hayes Stryker and Kathryn Ten Cate Stryker. True to her nature, Susie had a happy and carefree childhood. After graduating from Aspinwall High School, Susie attended Margaret Morrison Carnegie College, the Women’s college of Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University. There she majored in Textiles and Design and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Most importantly, at Carnegie Tech, Susie met John McSorley Mihm and thus began a lifelong love and a successful and happy marriage that lasted over 60 years.

After college, Susie went to work for The Joseph Horne Company in the Fashion Department. Although her career was short lived, she remained forever interested in clothes and fashion and loved nothing more than to shop with her granddaughters.

In 1991, Susie and John purchased a place in Boca Grande, Florida where they spent almost 30 winters playing golf, socializing with friends, and enjoying the beauty and nature of Gasparilla Island.

Although she came to sports late in life, Susie was a sports enthusiast. She started with tennis and eagerly transitioned to golf, a game she played with her friends and family until late in her life. Another great sports passion was football. Susie closely followed the Pittsburgh Steelers and rarely missed a game. She loved rehashing Steeler games with her sons and grandchildren.

Susie was an avid and discerning reader and a lifelong learner. She religiously read The New Yorker, and The New York Times and always had a new book. She regularly visited her library in Pittsburgh, Boca Grande, and Bedford, NY. She instilled a love of poetry and literature in her children and grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her husband John (2020), Susie is survived by her three children Maureen Mihm McManus (Patrick) of Bedford Hills, NY, Frank Mihm (Katie) and Andrew Mihm (Holly) of Pittsburgh, PA, her grandchildren, Kathryn McManus, Louise McManus, Claudia Mihm, Maggie Mihm, Henry Mihm, and Annie Mihm.  Susie had a deeply personal and warm relationship with every member of her family. Her enthusiasm, interest and engagement with her family and life will be forever missed.

There will be a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, May 10 at 4 pm at Saint Scholastica Church in Aspinwall followed immediately after by a gathering for family and friends at The Pittsburgh Field Club.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or The Bedford Free Library in Bedford, New York. Arrangements by John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com)

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