SUSAN WARFORD ’80

WARFORD, SUSAN D.G. 58, of Wakefield, beloved wife, daughter, mother, and sister passed away peacefully at her home Friday, surrounded by her family. Sue was married to Rick Warford for 33 years. Sue was born in Ft. Meade, MD, the daughter of Frank Gruskay of Connecticut and the late Bette (Gordon) Gruskay. Along with her husband and father, Sue is survived by two sons, Matthew Warford and his wife Paula of Boston, MA, and Lucas Warford of Washington, DC, her sister Nancy Gruskay of Boulder, CO and brother Jeffrey Gruskay of Branford, CT, as well as her loving nieces and nephews. Sue grew up outside New Haven, Connecticut and attended Wesleyan University. After graduating with a degree in Child Psychology, she earned her masters degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Sue was passionate about nurturing young children, supporting their families, and educating future teachers. She began her career teaching at the University of Rhode Island Child Development Center (CDC) in 1987 and soon after became its director, a tenure that lasted 27 years. Under Sue’s leadership, hundreds of students and their families attended the CDC, and the school won accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, flourishing into the well-respected program that it is today. Sue also worked to better the education of young children outside of the CDC, teaching Early Childhood Education at URI and working as an education consultant for the state’s Early Learning Standards Project. Sue earned recognition for her leadership at the CDC and her role in the community. She was the URI Foundation’s Administrative Excellence Award winner in 2005, and the College of Human Science and Services Outstanding Professional Staff Award winner in 2004. In 2015, Sue was named the URI Association for Professional and Academic Women (APAW) Woman of the Year. Sue loved walking on Green Hill beach, sitting in mountain rivers, dancing to Van Morrison, and going to concerts with her husband. She was an avid reader, educator, and Sudoku-doer. Above all, Sue cared deeply for her friends and family and found the utmost joy in nurturing the people she loved. She will be greatly missed. Visiting hours will be at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield, Monday, April 25, from 4-7 pm. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 26, at 1:30pm at 230 Metaterraine Ave, South Kingstown. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Susan D.G. Warford to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift. For guest book and condolences, averystortifuneralhome.com.