SUZANNE MONACO (1986 - 2012) | Visit Guest Book

SUZANNE MONACO

San Francisco resident Suzanne Monaco passed on May 6, 2012, when she lost her life after injuries sustained from being hit by a truck after putting groceries in her car. She was 25 years old.

Suzanne was born to Jim Monaco, Chris Sylvain and her big sister, Daphne on July 9, 1986 at Enloe Hospital in Chico, CA. She was a strong willed and driven child, determined to have adventures. She attended Citrus and Marigold Elementary schools and Chico Junior High, where she excelled in everything but spelling. She attended Spanish language camps both in and out of the country and spent a semester abroad in Australia, where she allegedly studied as a junior in high school. She graduated from Chico High School in 2005.

Suzanne attended Tulane University in New Orleans, where she earned a Masters of Architecture. Hurricane Katrina tried to keep her away from her adopted hometown but she would not let that happen. Instead she took the last semester off to volunteer for the Red Cross. She dove head first into the culture of New Orleans and embodied the eclectic, worry free spirit of the city.

Throughout her short life she traveled the world in a manner that one can only dream. Her fearless attitude and adventuresome spirit took her from Tanzania to Paris, Turkey to Singapore, and everywhere in between. If Suzanne wanted to go somewhere she found a way to make it happen.

Suzanne moved to San Francisco after graduating college in 2010 and took a job with 450 Architects . Just last Friday she completed the design for a playground in San Francisco School district - her first professional project. She believed in giving back to her community and performed a variety of volunteer work for Architecture for Humanity and Architects for Haiti. It is through this philanthropic work that she met the love of her life, fellow architect, Dan Kretchmer, who shared her passion for adventure.

Suzanne will be remembered as a young woman who lived a unique life balanced between academics, adventure, meaningful purpose and downright fun. Our grief is unexplainable, beyond belief, but it helps to share it with those who cherished our beloved, stubborn, willful and beautiful sister, daughter and friend.

Suzanne is survived by her father, Jim Monaco; mother, Chris Sylvain; sister, Daphne Monaco and boyfriend, Dan Kretchmer, as well as dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends around the world who miss her terribly. It is certain that Suzanne has inspired future adventures that shall keep her memory alive.

Memorial services will be held in Chico at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the north side of Five Mile park in Chico, CA. This will be a casual gathering; please bring chairs or blankets, ride your bike, wear sunscreen and bring water.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Suzanne Monaco to either of the following charitable organizations:

Make it Right; Helping to Rebuild New Orleans Lower 9th Ward

www.makeitrightnola.org

Architecture for Humanity; 848 Folsom St, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94107-1173

www.architectureforhumanity.org
Published in Chico Enterprise-Record on May 11, 2012