Salem - Susan D. Sampson, age 68, wife of Ellen Bigney, died Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the Lahey Clinic Hospital in Burlington from complications of respiratory failure.  Susan was born on May 19, 1955, in Lynn, daughter of Charles FW Sampson and Audrey Carlton Sampson.  She was a graduate of Saugus High School in the class of 1973.  She received her bachelor's degree in geography from Salem State College in 1977, Her Master's degree from Kent State in 1979 and her doctorate in 1982.

Following her Ph. D from Kent State, Susan started her career in retail working as a site analyst for Montgomery Wards in Chicago, IL.  She had also worked as a Site Analyst with Wake Fern Food Corp in Edison, NJ, Marketing vice president for the Bank of New England, and had been a professor for Simons College for 26 years.

Susan had resided in Salem for 37 years and loved motorcycles, bicycles, softball, running and Basketball.  She loved her work on the construction committee for Pickman Park.

Surviving Susan in addition to her wife Ellen with whom she shared 40 years of marriage and her beloved pet Macie, are her sister in law Barbara Sampson, her nephew Zachary Sampson both of Ft. Myers, FL, Her aunt Bonnie Carlton of Dania, FL and many wonderful friends and colleagues from Simmons College.  She was also the sister of the late Charles R. "Chuck" Sampson.

Visiting hours for Susan will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 10 AM to 12PM at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street, Salem.  Funeral Service will begin at 12 Noon at the Funeral Home.  Burial will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery, Orne St, Salem following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American lung Association @ Action.lung.org or to the American Cancer Society @ Donate.cancer.org.  For additional information or online guestbook please call 978-774-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com