The Salvation Army has confrimed that long time public and media realtions director Susan Eustice has died after a brief illness. Eustice died Saturday evening at the age of 65.
"Susan was best known as the “Voice of the Salvation Army” in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro, having been the Division’s spokeswoman for the entirety of her 21 years of service—but the depth and breadth of her work reached far beyond that particular role," the Salvation Army said in a statement.
"Susan was a pioneer, founding or co-founding several of the Division’s longest-running charitable drives and special social-services efforts. Among these are: the D.J.’s Hero Awards Luncheon, which just celebrated its twenty-first year and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for local Salvation Army youth programs; and the Adopt-a-Family Radiothon, which marked its nineteenth year last winter, helping some 2,100 area families with Christmas gifts. Susan oversaw large-scale community-relations efforts with deep connections to the Division’s history, as well—from those tied to disaster-relief work in rural areas to the move of our Divisional headquarters from midtown to west Omaha."
The statement also said "she constantly worked to uphold the motto of “Doing the most good.” Susan was always looking out for the welfare of others. She worked hard to improve the community in which she lived. She left people better than she found them. She was a beloved figure at our headquarters building, where she was a confidant to many and a friend to—and supporter of—all. She represented The Salvation Army on numerous boards, committees, and other groups in and around Omaha. She led several PR/communications professional associations, as well."
"We extend our deepest condolences to Susan’s family, friends, and all who mourn her passing. The value of Susan’s work to our organization was immeasurable. Her legacy lives on, extending far beyond the three states that our Division serves. We, as her friends and colleagues, consider ourselves immensely blessed to have worked alongside her—even more so to have known her as a friend."
She is survived by her husband Bill and three grown children.
(Photo: alberscommunications.com)