Susan Trowbridge Pickering died June 4 in Kirkland, Wash. She was 89 years old and in Evergreen Hospice care. Susan was born Oct. 21, 1924 in Wauwatosa, Wis., and attended both the University of Wisconsin and the University of Washington. She began her career in New York city as a Powers model, and became an author of eight books and a television commentator for beauty, art and architecture.

While living in New York city, she met a dashing young Englishman, James H. M. Partington, whom she married in 1954 on the island of Jamaica. They raised a family of two sons and many standard poodles in Connecticut, Martha’s Vineyard and Palm Beach, Fla. She was a long-standing member of the Edgartown Yacht Club.

Susan led a life of compassionate accomplishment, always in support of her children. She was a board member of a shelter for unwed mothers and runaway teens. She was a founding member of the Hospice Guild of Palm Beach, Fla., and served as president of the Guild for four years. Susan was a dedicated volunteer and ardent supporter of Planned Parenthood for over 40 years.

Along with being listed in Who’s Who of American Women, Susan was named Florida Child Advocate of the Year and received numerous awards for humanitarian service, including the Northwood University 2000 Ten Most Influential Women Award.

After the death of her husband James, Susan married Dr. Donald Pickering of Princeton, N.J., who died March 2, 2014 at age 94 in Palm Beach.

Susan’s family motto was Spes Pons Vitae, or Hope is the Bridge of Life. Hope was always exemplified in her personal credo: There are no dead ends in Christ, only new beginnings and new directions.

Susan was survived by sons Dr. Marshall T. (Jeanette) Partington and Bartholomew J. Partington; grandchildren Julia, Liza, Olivia and Trevor Partington; niece Susan Trovas, her husband Demetri and daughter Demetra, and nephew John Roth, as well as stepchildren Dorothy Bosidy and Donald Pickering Jr.

A memorial service will be held July 2 at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to benefit Hospice care in your area.