Our dear friend Susan Gosling and her partner Dee McBurney were killed tragically in a car accident on Thanksgiving Day. It goes without saying that we will miss Susan terribly. She will always hold a special place in our hearts and memories.
We have placed a notice on our department website. The Internet is neither the best nor easiest medium in which to discuss our grief, but as Susan knew so many people we feel that this space can help her friends and family cope with their loss together.
Please feel free to share stories, memories, and thoughts about Susan.
21 comments
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December 3, 2008 at 10:34 am
Clare
This is very sudden and tragic. Susan helped me successfully petition to graduate when I was ready to throw up my hands and walk away from school forever. I will never forget her kindness during that time. She will be missed!
December 3, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Shayna Ingram
She was my undergraduate advisor for two years and my co-worker since July. She helped me get through my first two years of college and helped train me in my first real job out of college. She was such a good person. Susan was my friend and she had an astounding spirit. She knew everyone’s name and remembered personal details that people had forgotten they’d told her. She always had something kind to say.
It is shocking that we will never see Susan again. We said good-bye to her and wished her a happy Thanksgiving last Tuesday. She responded with a cheery, “See you on Monday!” She was both happy to have a vacation and happy that she’d be back to work after a nice break.
I miss her brightness.
December 3, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Monica
I am still taken by this tragic and horrible incident. Susan Gosling was such a cheerful woman, she was always willing to help out. She was my undergraduate adviser, and we had just met with each other before the Thanksgiving break to discuss my progress and graduation requirements. She will sincerely be missed. I really enjoyed visiting her and talking with her. There were times when I would just be in South Hall and I would swing in her office to drop by and say hello. This is a very sad time for the staff that worked with her, her family, and her students. She will be missed. My prayers and thoughts go out to all of you who have had the blessing of getting to know this woman. I used to receive emails about anything English related from her on a daily basis…I am going to really miss seeing those cheerful emails, she always signed off as “cheers, Susan”. It is shocking that I will never see Susan again, as I left our last meeting we said that we would continue after Thanksgiving break to finalize paperwork… now, she is gone.
December 3, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Kyle
This was shocking for me when I heard the news, and I am very sad. Only a few weeks ago Susan helped me plan out my remaining courses to graduate this year. I was so excited that I was going to manage walking in the spring and she shared my enthusiasm. Now that she’s gone, I feel a little emptier now.
December 3, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Christina
I didn’t know Susan that well, I only came in once or twice with a quick question about cross-over courses or where the location of some English teacher’s box was. I remember her though. She smiled at me, and was just so kind. I was shocked when I found out she was in an accident, I couldn’t believe that I would never receive e-mails from her about English Department announcements and other English news and opportunities. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends..
December 3, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Aimee
Susan was such a kind-hearted person, and was always so eager to help others. The last couple of years she has put on a “Grad Appreciation Lunch,” and I remember thinking that it should be the other way around! I’ll miss her cheery smile and the way she always managed to brighten up the office.
December 4, 2008 at 2:48 am
Joomi
Just knowing that Susan will be there in the office was a comfort. She had a way of telling me that everything was okay, when the only times I went to see her was when there were problems. Her genuine care each and every time touched me. And I wish I could’ve told her then. Her heart-warming kindness will be remembered and also sadly missed..
December 4, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Ryan
Susan was my co-worker in the English Department for close to a year. She was such an unconditionally upbeat person and the department will surely miss her.
December 4, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Patricia Fumerton
Susan was one of a kind. When I think of all of my years as a professor in the UCSB English Department, I think of Susan Gosling, smiling up at me always ready and eager to help, with a cheerful, “you’ve got it!” A warm heart and a dear soul–she shall always live in our minds and in our hearts. Thank you, Susan, for everything.
December 5, 2008 at 9:50 am
Jeremy
Even though I met Susan once when I went in to speak to an English Undergraduate Advisor, I was amazed at the vast array of knowledge she had regarding the major. She was also very kind, helpful, and friendly and always willing to answer questions that students may have had. Although I really did not know her that well, I can say that she will nonetheless still be sorely missed, especially by the undergraduate students she aided as an Undergraduate Advisor.
December 5, 2008 at 11:13 am
Gretchen
Susan passed on her knowledge with both patience and kindness. She was professional with a human touch. I will miss her cheer, laugh and presence.
December 5, 2008 at 11:38 am
Robert
Susan and I came to meet when we both worked as Academic advisors for the Summer Orientation Program I believe in both 2000 and 2001. She was stationed there as the English/Writing Program advisor and I worked for the Math department at the time. Long lines on both Tuesday and yes even Saturday afternoons but we both endured. Since that time I didn’t see Susan all that much but when our paths did cross either at a meeting or just walking across campus, whenever she spotted me she always smiled, said hello and asked me how I was doing. Yes she was a great person. Susan this is too sad for words.
December 5, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Sherene
Susan has been my friend for at least 10 years. She started out as a co-worker and quickly became one of my favorite people and good friend.
She always had a cheerful face no matter what was going on in her life or the chaos going on around her. She was the buoy in the storm. Always friendly, always happy, always helpful, always there with a shoulder when anyone needed to be cheered up.
I will miss her stories and her love of life and the light that she was to everyone around her. She was abruptly taken from our lives, but because of how she lived life, she will live on in our memories and stories of how she touched all our lives.
Susan helped me in so many ways and was kind the friend we all hope to have, as well as an example of the kind of friend I should be. I will miss her profoundly.
December 5, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Chelsea
I had the pleasure of working with Susan . Her warm welcome and unconditional kindness to everyone she encountered was refreshing and will be greatly missed. Bless you Susan.
December 7, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Marc García-Martínez
How utterly sad this news is, the loss of our sister Susan. Just a few short months ago she personally helped me get documents together to file my dissertation, all the while making efforts to assure me that I was somehow the purpose of her work rather than an interruption of it. Thank you Susan, for all the amiable, zany, and patient moments we had. Thank you more so for reminding me through your personal sacrifice that life is so damned short, unpredictable and fragile…your lesson will not be wasted, amiga.
December 10, 2008 at 10:42 am
Tom Roberts
I first met Susan some twenty years ago when she produced a video public service announcement for a non-profit organization I was working for at the time. In the years that would follow our paths would cross from time to time. Each encounter with Susan was like finding a surprise package on your door step, opening it, and having a wave of joy burst out.
Day by day as we traverse the journey of our lives, along the way we are fortunate to meet those special people that have a unique way of instantly bringing a smile to our faces and briefly making us forget whatever other challenges or distractions that may have been occupying our minds. Susan was one of those people.
While she may no longer walk among us, her memory remains a part of us; a part that makes us smile. That is her parting gift to us. It is a gift that will keep on giving each time we think of her. And she wouldn’t want it any other way.
-Tom Roberts
December 10, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Joni Schwartz
Every morning at work, Susan would greet me with the biggest smile and say, “Good Morning Joni!” It always brought a smile to my face and started my days off just right. God, I miss her!
Susan’s infectious laugh would make me giggle every time I heard it. I’d work away at my desk in my usual hyper-focused way when I’d hear her laughing about something — all it would take was to hear her laugh and it’d get me started.
Susan understood me…She had this special way of reading me and saying just the right thing when I needed support or was stressed.
She adored my kids and they adored her. I have not yet had the strength to tell them that she is an angel now.
When I first met Dee…. she scared me. I think she was skeptical of me before she knew how I would treat Susan. Quickly, she warmed up to me and we’d share many laughs when she’d come by the department or over the phone. I was so impressed by how she cared for Susan, in sickness and in health. Their love was apparent and it was a gift to know them. Both had such generous hearts and seemed to embrace life with zest and excitement. They contributed so much to the department, our events, and our lives. Susan and Dee had a profound impact on my life. I will forever be grateful.
December 10, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Joey R.
I briefly worked with Susan in the English Department during the fall of 2007. I remember nothing but an incredibly friendly, caring and warm person, and I am deeply saddened by the news of her loss. Susan always seemed available to students and coworkers, genuinely concerned for their wellbeing while enjoying allinteraction. My deep condolences go out to her friends, colleagues and family.
December 11, 2008 at 12:56 pm
TJ Ortega
When I first met Susan as a colleague in the English department, our love for animals created an instant bond. We would constantly swap animal stories, her with her dogs and me with my horses/dogs/goats. Even after I moved to another department on campus, we stayed in touch. Each time I would see or talk to Susan, I would find myself saying “I wish there were more people like Susan”. She was so kind all the time to everyone, we should all strive to be a bit more like Susan. I will miss her warm smile and infectious laugh.
I was also fortunate to get to know Dee. What a talented artist. I feel blessed to have two of her creations hanging in my campus office.
They cared so deeply for one another and each time I saw them together it made me smile to see two people so happy.
I will never forget the impact they both had on my life.
December 12, 2008 at 11:14 am
Dana Spoonerow
I worked with Susan in the English department from 2002-2004, our offices were right next door to each other and we both came in at 7:30am so we had time to visit together in the mornings before our busy days would start. I don’t think I ever saw Susan in a bad mood…not that she didn’t have them, she just refused to burden others with them. Her incredible sense of humor and exuberant spirit was infectious and I feel incredibly lucky to have known both she and Dee. People talk about soul-mates but Susan and Dee defined the term…they were very dedicated to each other and were an excellent example of what a truly successful and loving relationship can be.
I will miss Susan terribly as I know everyone else will…our lives will not be the same without her.
March 1, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Orin Weintraub
Best adviser I’ve had.
Went to her after graduating and even during graduate school.
Door was always open.
Very very sad.