We recently learned of the passing of our 2008 Pink Dish for a Year recipient Susan Marrinan. Of course, we are very saddened by this news.

I had the privilege of meeting Susan on two occasions. The first was the day that I shared with her and her fellow teachers and the Little River Elementary School the news that she was chosen as the Pink Dish for a Year recipient. As the bearer of good news, I was introduced to Susan in front of all members of the faculty. I had the honor of telling Susan that 145 separate people wrote to us at Let’s Dish! to share their love for her.

A couple of weeks later I saw Susan again at a wonderful celebration thrown by the teachers, administrators, parents and children at the school. Alexa and Rick Corcoran and I were invited to formally present Susan and her family with her official Let’s Dish! for a Year prize. The room was loaded with pink balloons, children and adults wearing pink, and pink artwork. Each of Susan’s first grade students presented Susan with a pink rose and a hug.

In my remarks I spoke directly to the dozens of children who were gathered on the floor in front of the podium. I told them, “there will be many times over the years that you’ll think about your time in Mrs. Marrinan’s class and smile. You may think about things she taught you, life lessons you learned, scrapes she cleaned, tears she dried and most certainly about fun times you shared. Your Mrs. Merrinan is one of those special teachers who you’ll know positively influenced the person you become.”  Susan Marrinan was one of those rare truly special people who touched everyone in her path.

We express our deepest condolences to Mike, Abby and Megan and to every member of the Little River Elementary School community. Susan, if you can hear our thoughts, you know that we are thinking about you. We are honored to have met you and proud to have been given the opportunity to celebrate your life with your family and friends. You have touched all of us at Let’s Dish! and we will always remember you.