Susan Marie Dahl

Susan Marie (Petroski) Dahl, 69, passed away on November 21, 2021 at the Rogers Hospice Care Center (Akron), after a valiant 14-year battle with breast cancer. She was beloved by all who knew her. Susan was born in Akron on October 21, 1952. She grew up in Northampton Township and graduated from Woodridge High School in 1970. In 1974, after graduating from Kent State University with her Bachelor’s degree in science education, Susan began a long career of teaching geology, biology, and general science in the Tallmadge City Schools, attaining her Master’s degree in science education several years later. In recognition of her superb teaching, she was selected as Martha Holden Jennings Scholar for one year and was honored again as THS Outstanding Teacher a few years later. Susan retired from teaching in 2004, after 30 years of dedicated service. Always a passionate lover of nature, she next worked five years for the Portage Park District, often co-leading student field trips to the county’s many beautiful parks and nature preserves. Beavers were always her favorite local wild animal, so perhaps it is fitting that she passed away with the recent beaver moon.

On June 14, 1982 Susan met the love of her life, KSU geology professor Peter S. Dahl.  They were married in Kent on January 14, 1984; welcomed their daughter Elena Katherine in 1987; and lived a charmed life together in Kent for nearly 38 years. During those years Susan graced their home of 31 years with a warm decorative touch and created a magnificent flower garden complete with water fountains and a goldfish pond on their half-acre lot. Susan also loved to explore; she and Pete traveled the world together, visiting 38 countries on six continents between 1984-2019.

Preceded in death by her parents, Robert Petroski and Catherine Petroski Teel, and by brothers Paul Petroski and Steve Brandt, Susan is survived by: her husband of 38 years, Pete; daughter Elena Dahl and son-in-law Terry Park; sister Rita (Walt) Williams of Akron; sister Linda (Ron) Swope of Ringgold GA; brother Tom (Tammy) Petroski of Seattle; and her 19 nieces and nephews.

Per Susan’s wishes, her ashes will be inurned at Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent, overlooking the placid Cuyahoga River she loved so much, and there will be no calling hours or funeral. Instead, the Dahl family will host a celebration of Susan’s life in May-June 2022, open to all who knew her, surrounded by the very flower garden she tended so lovingly for those 31 years. Date and time will be made public closer to the event. The Dahl family would also like to acknowledge the heroic efforts of the Cleveland Clinic oncology staff in Beachwood, who helped to give Susan a great life despite battling cancer, and also the gentle care provided to her by the Cleveland Clinic hospice staff during her last two months. Finally, our beloved Susie directed that any memorial contributions in her name be made to Kent Family and Community Services (143 Gougler Ave., Kent OH) or the Portage Animal Protective League (8122 Infirmary Rd., Ravenna OH).