Susan DuPont McConnell, of Charlottesville, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, with family at her side. The cause of death was Ovarian Cancer.
Susan was born on October 25, 1950 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was the daughter of J. H. Tyler McConnell and Jean Ellen DuPont Shehan, both of whom pre-deceased her. In 1968, she graduated from Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia. Susan continued her education at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, where she was a member of the first graduating class of women in 1972. A devoted mother and grandmother, Susan is survived by her two daughters, Stephanie Rinehart Keen, her husband, Kevin and Caroline Rinehart Cardais, her husband Zach; and by four grandchildren, Lyndsey Keen, Brandon Keen, Tyler Cardais, and Hayes Cardais; her sister, Marion McConnell Lassen, her husband, Kai; and brother, James H. T. McConnell, Jr.
Susan lived a life of service and worked steadfastly to enable others. She was the chairman of the Board of Directors at Foxcroft School, on the original property council for Montpelier where she was instrumental in getting the property available to the public. Susan was a longtime member and vice-chair of the University of Virginia Cancer Center Advisory Board. Her altruistic spirit led her to volunteer at the UVA Infusion Center for over 6 years and she organized an annual appreciation lunch for the staff members at the Cancer Center. Susan was a regular volunteer at the 5:00 o'clock Sunday service dinners at Christ Episcopal Church. Susan was a proud member of the Free Union Homemakers Club.
For a quarter of a century, Susan consistently visited Clifden, Ireland where she was regarded as a local. Her love for the country and its people, inspired her to breed her own herd of Connemara ponies at Oakfields Farm in Free Union, Virginia. She served as President of the American Connemara Pony Society, the official recording secretary of the history of ICCPS, and the Chair of the Inspection Committee. Respected for her knowledge and passion for the breed, Susan encouraged members of the ACPS to "always try and do better." She was committed on an international level to the representation of the Connemara pony and was honored with the Michael O'Malley Award in 2018. It is impossible to overstate Susan's importance to the promotion of the Connemara pony, both in the United States and around the world. As much as Susan was devoted to her farm, her work as a volunteer and to her friends; her greatest love was always her daughters and their families. "Nana" was admired and adored by her grandchildren. The legacy of her giving spirit, hard work, natural curiosity, and zest for life will live on through them.
Susan's family would like to thank the dedicated staff at the UVA Cancer Center for their compassionate care, Dr. Susan Modesitt, and Dr. Peyton Taylor. The family would also like to thank Susan's supportive circle of friends. A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions in Susan's memory may be made either to the UVA Cancer Center (for research on ovarian cancer and clinical trials) at UVA Health Foundation, P.O. Box 800773, Charlottesville, VA 22908 http://get-involved.uvahealth.com/goto/SusanMcConnell or to Foxcroft School at 22407 Foxhound Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117.
Published in the Daily Progress 2019
