Suzanne A. Cardwell

Suzanne A. (Howe) Cardwell, 84 of Dryden, NY passed away suddenly on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at the Cayuga Medical Center surrounded by her family. Sue was born on June 28, 1931 in White Plains, NY, the youngest of three daughters of the late Marion Warren Howe and Robert E. L. Howe. Sue attended Scarsdale High School and graduated in 1950. After High School she attended college at Stoneleigh Burnham College (Greenfield, MA). She met her husband of 46 years, Robert Addison Cardwell of Mt. Vernon, NY, at Norden Bomb Site, Co. They married on February 27, 1954 and moved to Williston, VT. Bob was the light of her life, her best friend, and a doting husband and father. After the birth of their first daughter in 1958, they moved to Dryden (where they resided for 57 years) and had a son in 1961 and another daughter in 1965.
Sue loved the Dryden community and was a very active member. She was one of the founding members of The Dryden Footlighters, established 1966. She was involved with more than 50 theater productions and was well- known for her sound effects talent and acting primarily in comedy roles. She also enjoyed her involvement with the SUNY Cortland Repertory Theatre on occasion where her sound effects were utilized. Before moving to Dryden, Sue was a three-time, first-place winner on the "Ted Mack Amateur Hour" which aired on major network television stations. As a result of her success with Ted Mack, she was offered a contract with TerryToons but chose family over fame.
Other noteworthy Dryden clubs and organizations that Sue participated in, volunteered for/held positions in were: The Dryden Hobby Club, The Southworth Library Reading Program (where she again used her sound effects while reading the story and always provided crafts or treats), The Southworth Library Steering Committee, The Dryden Literary Club, The Village of Dryden Steering Committee, The Voting Polls, The Dryden Historical Society, and The Dryden Café'. Sue proposed the name "Time Square" (2003) for the small park that is located at the four corners in the village and the name was voted for. She and Bob were very involved in the 1997 Dryden Bi-Centennial celebration where they devoted much time in the planning, and Bob's artwork of the Commemorative fountain was chosen for the Publicity Theme. Sue was an Adjunct Secretary at TC3 (Tompkins Cortland Community College) for over 23 years and returned often to participate in the annual retiree dinners and various other functions.
Sue enjoyed the coffee hour daily with her friends from Dryden and Ithaca where she could be counted on for bringing special treats and entertainment and very much enjoyed organizing the yearly Christmas dinner held in Ithaca. She loved the annual Dryden Dairy Day and Memorial Day parades and often opened her door and lawn to Dryden residents offering coffee and treats. Sue's friends have commented that they will miss her genuine "sparkly" smile, sense of humor, and relentless energy and passion for life in general. Sue had dear classmates from Scarsdale High who she continued to see in Manhattan a few times a year.
Sue is survived by her daughter Dana C (Daniel) Vallese of Cortland, NY; her son Kent H (Mary Anderson) Cardwell of Baden, PA; and daughter Marion C (Guillermo) Ferrer of Lansing, NY; Grandchildren Alexa, Troy, Holly, Kyle, Zachary, Candace Marie, Maya, all of whom she was very proud and loved dearly; sisters Harriet (Howe) Kelly of Denver, CO, Virginia (Howe) Perrins of Rexford, NY; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, and her sweet cat, "Pokey."
The family wishes to thank the staffs at Cayuga Medical Center and Hospicare, all of whom provided very attentive and heartfelt care to both Sue and her children.
A memorial service will be held at 12 pm, Wednesday, August 10, 2016 in the First Presbyterian Church of Dryden, 6 North Street, Dryden, NY. A private burial will take place at Green Hills Cemetery in Dryden. Memorial donations may be made to the Ithaca and Cortland SPCA, the Dryden Historical Society and the Southworth Library.