Suzanne I. Emerson

Suzanne Irwin Emerson died peacefully at home on February 8, 2023, after an eight-year battle with cancer, under the loving care of her husband Scott and the Hospice of the Western Reserve.

She was born on October 13, 1955, in Summit, New Jersey to James B. (Jim) Irwin IV of Elizabeth, NJ and June Cullen Irwin of Hallsville, TX. 

Suzanne grew up in El Dorado, AR and Gates, Mills, OH with her two older brothers, Jim, currently of New Orleans, LA, and John of Chagrin Falls, graduating from Hathaway Brown School in the free-spirited class of 1974. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in anthropology. 

Not long after college she married actor and entrepreneur, Roger Davis, of Louisville, KY. They caringly restored Louisville’s oldest (ca. 1791) home, where daughter Margaret (Meg), currently of West Hollywood, CA, was born. Suzanne served on the board of Louisville’s Children’s Theater and was an active member of the Junior League. 

Although the marriage ended, and Suzanne and Margaret moved back to Chagrin Falls, she and Roger remained lifelong friends. Suzanne rekindled her high school romance with Scott Emerson, and they married in 1986. Settling in Shaker Heights, they had three more children, Olivia, currently of Jackson, WY, Chloe of Boulder, CO, and Scott, Jr. of Denver, CO. Suzanne was a tireless volunteer worker whose life centered on family and friends who will always remember her as their favorite storyteller. Suzanne finally became grandmother “Sassy”, a name reflecting the whip smart, adoringly funny and enormously loving Suzanne that we will all cherish and remember.

She is survived by her husband Edward Scott Emerson; brothers James Burke Irwin V (Stephanie) and John Rankin Irwin (Nancy); children Margaret Randolph Davis, Olivia Emerson Koldenhoven (Nick), Chloe Emerson Hopkins (Austin), and Edward Scott Emerson Jr; and granddaughter Lennon June Koldenhoven.

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service at St. Christopher-by-the-River in Gates Mills on Friday, May 19 at 4 p.m.