Susan (Sue) LaForge
Obituary
Susan (Sue) LaForge, 70, died at her home in San Jose,
Calif., on Tuesday (Feb. 7, 2012).
She was born on May 15, 1941, in Newton to John F. and
Margaret (Fugate) King. She graduated from Newton High School in 1959, and
attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia and Wichita State University,
where she was news editor for the WSU Sunflower and earned a bachelor’s degree
with a double major in journalism and psychology. On April 27, 1967, she
married John C. LaForge at Grace Memorial Chapel on the WSU campus.
In August 1967, Sue joined the staff of the Los Gatos
(California) Times Observer, where she held the position of managing editor for
10 and one-half years. In 1980, she was
named executive manager of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce; and from 1993 to
2006, she was senior project director, San Jose Region, of the National Council
on Aging.
Sue was an active, respected and dedicated member of her
community and area throughout the years. She was a member of Soroptimist
International and served on numerous boards, including the Ming Quong Board of
Directors, Eastfield-Ming Quong Board of Directors, Live Oak Adult Day Care
Center Board of Directors, Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board and South
Bay N.O.V.A. Board of Advisors. She served as chair of the S.W. Y.M.C.A. camp
committee and Board of Managers, was founder and chair of Los Gatos Youth Park
and founder of the Los Gatos Children’s Christmas Parade Foundation.
She was honored by the seven Silicon Valley branches of the
Y.M.C.A. in 1979, was named Los Gatos Youth Park Citizen of the Year in 1983
and chosen as Grand Marshall of the Los Gatos Children’s Christmas Parade in
1993.
She is survived by her husband, Johnny, and son, D’Arcy, of
San Jose; sister, Jackie Arnold, of Destin, Fla.; extended family; and many
friends.
A victim of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease since birth, Sue
endured multiple surgeries, atrophy and loss of balance with determination and
grace. Her indomitable will allowed her to achieve her goals. If you wish,
please send a donation in her name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association for
CMT research.
A celebration of Sue’s life will be on March 24 in Los
Gatos, Calif. All who knew her are invited to attend. Please contact Jan
Morris-Phillips for details at jmorris@PeakTravel.com or (408) 888-6015.
“The spirit of her time on Earth will remain in the souls of
those she touched in her life” (Jim LaForge, brother-in-law).
1941 - 2012 (70 years)