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NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Suzanne Klempay Hickey, 85, of North Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones, with her beloved dog, Joey, by her side.
Suzanne lived an extraordinary life, although she likely would have resisted anyone making too much fuss about it. She was fiercely intelligent, elegant, discerning, quietly generous and decades ahead of her time in her professional life.
Born Susan Klempay on Aug. 5, 1941, in Youngstown, Ohio, she was the daughter of Raymond Thomas Klempay and Rita Walsh Klempay.
Suzanne attended Liberty High School in Youngstown before graduating from Laurel School in Shaker Heights in 1959. She went on to Bryn Mawr College, where she studied behavioral psychology and graduated in 1963.
In 1964, Suzanne began what would become a remarkable 21-year career with IBM. She entered the company as a Systems Engineer during the formative years of modern business computing, working with early computer systems, programming and telecommunications. At a time when women were still largely absent from the industry, Suzanne made her mark on the technical side of the business before moving into marketing and increasingly senior management positions, ultimately becoming a Marketing Manager. Suzanne earned a reputation at IBM for her intelligence, business acumen, leadership and willingness to tackle difficult problems. Her own recollection captures just how unusual her path was: at one IBM training course, Suzanne found herself in a class with 59 men and no other women. Looking back on those early years, the significance of her path was clear -- she was a true pioneer.
While building that career, Suzanne met the great love of her life, Joseph M. Hickey Jr., in February 1970. Their first date was a three-hour lunch during which, according to Suzanne, Joe "never stopped selling himself." Five months later, in July 1970, they married. Suzanne later described their courtship as a whirlwind and, after nearly four decades together, reported that they both agreed it had been a "great sale."
Suzanne and Joe built a life marked by love, partnership, successful careers, close friendships, travel, community and philanthropy. They lived for many years in the Cleveland area, including Bratenahl, before making Lost Tree Village in North Palm Beach, Florida, their permanent home.
Following her retirement from IBM in 1985, she and Joe traveled extensively and became deeply engaged in the communities and institutions they cared about. Together, they generously supported the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, along with charitable causes within their Lost Tree community.
Suzanne's compassion for animals remained one of the great constants of her life, encompassing horses, dogs, and the Florida wildlife she so enjoyed. She and Joe shared a particularly joyful adventure with their miniature schnauzer, Rick, who became an AKC Champion at just 11 months old and was shown at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2006.
Suzanne remained in their home following Joe's death in 2014, continuing the friendships, charitable interests and community connections that had become such an important part of her life. In her later years, she found great pleasure in the everyday life surrounding her at home. She loved watching the birds gather at the feeders outside her windows, spending time with friends, listening to music and even dancing. She treasured the companionship of her dog, Joey, and her life was filled with loving people who brought her comfort, laughter, and joy. She died peacefully, free of pain, with dignity and love, and very much as she had lived: in her own way and on her own terms.
Suzanne is survived by her cousins, Barbara Walsh Bolotin of Vienna, Virginia, Diane Walsh Johns of Poland and John (Gail) Walsh of Poland; her sister-in-law, Sharon Hickey Buchan of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; and her nieces, Jill Buchan of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kate Buchan of Morrisville, Vermont.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph M. Hickey Jr.; her parents, Raymond and Rita Klempay; and her cousin, Katherine C. Wallace, with whom she shared a lifelong bond more akin to sisters.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown, followed by a committal service at Calvary Cemetery, where Suzanne will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Joe.
A Celebration of Life will also be held at Lost Tree Club in North Palm Beach during the winter of 2027, where family, friends, and members of the community will gather to honor and remember Suzanne.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, Florida, an organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of Florida's native wildlife, in recognition of Suzanne's lifelong love of animals and wildlife.
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