Suzanne Palminteri ’87

Sue died Nov. 30, 2019, after a vigorous fight with multiple myeloma.

Sue was born in New Jersey on a small farm 90 minutes from Princeton. That short journey gave no hint of the world traveler our history major classmate would become. After playing on the Princeton tennis team, Sue played professionally in Europe. She returned to the U.S. dedicated to protect the natural world, earning a master’s degree in environmental policy at Duke in 1994 and a Ph.D. in ecology at the University of East Anglia in 2011.

She married fellow conservation scientist George Powell; their research took them to Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, where they had numerous close friends and countless adventures. She was a mentor to many, and her enthusiasm, passion, and knowledge inspired colleagues and friends. She was recently conservation technology editor at Mongabay, which has established a memorial fund.

Classmates remember undergrad Sue dancing with joy till dawn on Prospect. Upbeat ’80s tunes particularly suited Sue’s ebullience. We will miss her under the Reunions tents and always.

Sue is survived by her husband, George Powell; her dad; and siblings Elaine and Paul. Her mother predeceased her. Along with family, her ’87 friends miss her dearly.