Obituary of Suzanne Klingler Johnston

Suzanne Klingler Johnston, residing in Pittsford, New York, entered into eternal rest at the age of 76 on April 3rd, 2020. Suzanne was a life-long teacher, school administrator, and passionate advocate of high-quality education for all children. After graduating from Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women in 1961, Suzanne received her degree in English from Nazareth College in 1966. Throughout her career, Suzanne served in academic positions in several school districts in the Rochester area. She became principal of Wilson Magnet High School in 1985, a post she held for 17 years. Following her years of service at Wilson and later at West Irondequoit, Suzanne was hired as president of Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, her Alma mater. During her tenure at Mercy, she also retained her adjunct teaching position at St. John Fisher College. Suzanne retired from Mercy in 2018 but continued to work as an advocate for children's education. Suzanne was the second oldest of Joseph and Helen Klingler's four children and was raised in West Irondequoit. Suzanne married James M. Johnston in 1973 and was faithfully devoted to him for 32 years until his death in 2005. She was also predeceased by her parents Joseph and Helen Klingler, her sisters Victoria Craven and Karen Zeller and great nephew Jake Morrison. Suzanne is survived by her sister Elaine Morrison (N. Palm Beach, FL), nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews of whom she treated like her own children and grandchildren. Suzanne loved life, enjoyed cycling, had a passion for the performing arts, took delight in hiking, traveling, and spending time with family. She amassed an enormous group of friends, colleagues, and former students who will miss her terribly. Due to the current pandemic, there will not be a public funeral mass and burial. The family is planning a public celebration of Suzanne's life in the future. Inlieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Live Like Jake Foundation (livelikejake.com) PO Box 31652 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33420, or Suzanne Klingler Johnston ’61 Memorial Scholarship at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women Office of Institutional Advancement (www.mercyhs.com/give) 1437 Blossom Road Rochester, New York 14610 Suzanne was an amazing wife, sister, aunt, educator, and friend who touched so many lives. She will forever live on in the hearts and memories of those who loved her so much.