Suzanne Torok's obituary and eulogy (reprinted with permission): Suzanne Torok-Burge was born to Paul Joseph Torok and Ruth Armstrong Saunders Torok on April 29, 1954 in St. Joseph, MO. She passed away peacefully on March 2, 2018 in Highland, KS.
Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Tim Torok. Surviving are a sister-in-law Rosalie Torok, two beloved nephews Eli and Levi Torok, and her life-long friends Ross Thompson and Audrey Sheridan. Also surviving are numerous cousins and many friends.
Suzanne graduated from Highland High School and Highland Community College. She earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in communication from Kansas State University. She taught communication for Lawrence public schools, K-State, Missouri Western, Johnson County Community College and Highland Community College. She was famous for imaginative and creative lessons that intrigued and fascinated her students. She was married for several years, and went by the name Suzanne Torok-Burge.
She was a life-long member of the Highland Christian Church but also enjoyed attending services at various churches in the area. Suzanne's friends and relatives would like to thank the people of Highland, KS who helped take care of her during her long illness. She was an inspiration in her courageous, nine-year battle against cancer.
Eulogy for Suzanne Torok-Burge (By Donna Parish)
Ross Thompson, Susan Idol, and I would like to recognize Highland, KS, for helping us care for Suzanne over her last years. If I tried to list the people who helped, I would leave someone out. You all know who you are. It is unfortunate that we too often remember the very ill as they were in their last days. So let's go back to Suzanne pre-cancer.
She was a brilliant and eccentric woman who was highly educated and well-informed. I sometimes imagine myself as highly educated and well-informed; and then I would spend an evening with Brenda Hines and Suzanne. I would keep up with the swirling conversation of books, movies, art, theater, music, and philosophers for about 10 minutes. After those 10 minutes, I would be writing titles on napkins for about 10 more minutes, then give up and just sit and listen.
Suzanne was an excellent teacher. When she first got sick, I drove her to Johnson County Community College one night a week for her classes. Every night she had the scarf on her head tied in a different way that always looked just right. On the trip I would ask her what the plan was for her classes that evening. The plans would be some amazing creative exercise that I would never have considered. Yes, lesson plans are what teachers often discuss. As she became too ill to teach, Suzanne said, "It's just as well, Donna. Sitting a student at a computer is not my idea of teaching." Many of Suzanne's students at Johnson County and at Highland were urban black students. She could rap with them. More than once on Highland Main Street, a 6 foot six black student would holler, "Miss T, Miss T," and come rushing up to visit with her.
I have so many memories: One warm spring day we were going to Kansas City. I was in jeans. She came out of her house dressed head to foot in velvet. She then said, "Oh, my, it's a little warm for velvet. I'll go change." She then came out trailing yards of chiffon. We had parties in her house where we ate exotic hors d'oeuvres in front of the fireplace and hoped the house didn't burn down. We listened to her tell entertaining stories that we wondered if they were true, but we didn't care.
Suzanne Torok-Burge, if I can paraphrase from Dylan Thomas,
Wild women who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave women, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Suzanne raged against the dying of the light!
--
Suzanne Torok Burge's Master's Thesis: "An Analysis of the Acting Style of James O'Neill," Masters thesis, Kansas State University, 1976.
Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Tim Torok. Surviving are a sister-in-law Rosalie Torok, two beloved nephews Eli and Levi Torok, and her life-long friends Ross Thompson and Audrey Sheridan. Also surviving are numerous cousins and many friends.
Suzanne graduated from Highland High School and Highland Community College. She earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in communication from Kansas State University. She taught communication for Lawrence public schools, K-State, Missouri Western, Johnson County Community College and Highland Community College. She was famous for imaginative and creative lessons that intrigued and fascinated her students. She was married for several years, and went by the name Suzanne Torok-Burge.
She was a life-long member of the Highland Christian Church but also enjoyed attending services at various churches in the area. Suzanne's friends and relatives would like to thank the people of Highland, KS who helped take care of her during her long illness. She was an inspiration in her courageous, nine-year battle against cancer.
Eulogy for Suzanne Torok-Burge (By Donna Parish)
Ross Thompson, Susan Idol, and I would like to recognize Highland, KS, for helping us care for Suzanne over her last years. If I tried to list the people who helped, I would leave someone out. You all know who you are. It is unfortunate that we too often remember the very ill as they were in their last days. So let's go back to Suzanne pre-cancer.
She was a brilliant and eccentric woman who was highly educated and well-informed. I sometimes imagine myself as highly educated and well-informed; and then I would spend an evening with Brenda Hines and Suzanne. I would keep up with the swirling conversation of books, movies, art, theater, music, and philosophers for about 10 minutes. After those 10 minutes, I would be writing titles on napkins for about 10 more minutes, then give up and just sit and listen.
Suzanne was an excellent teacher. When she first got sick, I drove her to Johnson County Community College one night a week for her classes. Every night she had the scarf on her head tied in a different way that always looked just right. On the trip I would ask her what the plan was for her classes that evening. The plans would be some amazing creative exercise that I would never have considered. Yes, lesson plans are what teachers often discuss. As she became too ill to teach, Suzanne said, "It's just as well, Donna. Sitting a student at a computer is not my idea of teaching." Many of Suzanne's students at Johnson County and at Highland were urban black students. She could rap with them. More than once on Highland Main Street, a 6 foot six black student would holler, "Miss T, Miss T," and come rushing up to visit with her.
I have so many memories: One warm spring day we were going to Kansas City. I was in jeans. She came out of her house dressed head to foot in velvet. She then said, "Oh, my, it's a little warm for velvet. I'll go change." She then came out trailing yards of chiffon. We had parties in her house where we ate exotic hors d'oeuvres in front of the fireplace and hoped the house didn't burn down. We listened to her tell entertaining stories that we wondered if they were true, but we didn't care.
Suzanne Torok-Burge, if I can paraphrase from Dylan Thomas,
Wild women who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave women, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Suzanne raged against the dying of the light!
--
Suzanne Torok Burge's Master's Thesis: "An Analysis of the Acting Style of James O'Neill," Masters thesis, Kansas State University, 1976.
Suzanne Torok's obituary and eulogy (reprinted with permission): Suzanne Torok-Burge was born to Paul Joseph Torok and Ruth Armstrong Saunders Torok on April 29, 1954 in St. Joseph, MO. She passed away peacefully on March 2, 2018 in Highland, KS.
Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Tim Torok. Surviving are a sister-in-law Rosalie Torok, two beloved nephews Eli and Levi Torok, and her life-long friends Ross Thompson and Audrey Sheridan. Also surviving are numerous cousins and many friends.
Suzanne graduated from Highland High School and Highland Community College. She earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in communication from Kansas State University. She taught communication for Lawrence public schools, K-State, Missouri Western, Johnson County Community College and Highland Community College. She was famous for imaginative and creative lessons that intrigued and fascinated her students. She was married for several years, and went by the name Suzanne Torok-Burge.
She was a life-long member of the Highland Christian Church but also enjoyed attending services at various churches in the area. Suzanne's friends and relatives would like to thank the people of Highland, KS who helped take care of her during her long illness. She was an inspiration in her courageous, nine-year battle against cancer.
Eulogy for Suzanne Torok-Burge (By Donna Parish)
Ross Thompson, Susan Idol, and I would like to recognize Highland, KS, for helping us care for Suzanne over her last years. If I tried to list the people who helped, I would leave someone out. You all know who you are. It is unfortunate that we too often remember the very ill as they were in their last days. So let's go back to Suzanne pre-cancer.
She was a brilliant and eccentric woman who was highly educated and well-informed. I sometimes imagine myself as highly educated and well-informed; and then I would spend an evening with Brenda Hines and Suzanne. I would keep up with the swirling conversation of books, movies, art, theater, music, and philosophers for about 10 minutes. After those 10 minutes, I would be writing titles on napkins for about 10 more minutes, then give up and just sit and listen.
Suzanne was an excellent teacher. When she first got sick, I drove her to Johnson County Community College one night a week for her classes. Every night she had the scarf on her head tied in a different way that always looked just right. On the trip I would ask her what the plan was for her classes that evening. The plans would be some amazing creative exercise that I would never have considered. Yes, lesson plans are what teachers often discuss. As she became too ill to teach, Suzanne said, "It's just as well, Donna. Sitting a student at a computer is not my idea of teaching." Many of Suzanne's students at Johnson County and at Highland were urban black students. She could rap with them. More than once on Highland Main Street, a 6 foot six black student would holler, "Miss T, Miss T," and come rushing up to visit with her.
I have so many memories: One warm spring day we were going to Kansas City. I was in jeans. She came out of her house dressed head to foot in velvet. She then said, "Oh, my, it's a little warm for velvet. I'll go change." She then came out trailing yards of chiffon. We had parties in her house where we ate exotic hors d'oeuvres in front of the fireplace and hoped the house didn't burn down. We listened to her tell entertaining stories that we wondered if they were true, but we didn't care.
Suzanne Torok-Burge, if I can paraphrase from Dylan Thomas,
Wild women who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave women, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Suzanne raged against the dying of the light!
--
Suzanne Torok Burge's Master's Thesis: "An Analysis of the Acting Style of James O'Neill," Masters thesis, Kansas State University, 1976.
Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Tim Torok. Surviving are a sister-in-law Rosalie Torok, two beloved nephews Eli and Levi Torok, and her life-long friends Ross Thompson and Audrey Sheridan. Also surviving are numerous cousins and many friends.
Suzanne graduated from Highland High School and Highland Community College. She earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in communication from Kansas State University. She taught communication for Lawrence public schools, K-State, Missouri Western, Johnson County Community College and Highland Community College. She was famous for imaginative and creative lessons that intrigued and fascinated her students. She was married for several years, and went by the name Suzanne Torok-Burge.
She was a life-long member of the Highland Christian Church but also enjoyed attending services at various churches in the area. Suzanne's friends and relatives would like to thank the people of Highland, KS who helped take care of her during her long illness. She was an inspiration in her courageous, nine-year battle against cancer.
Eulogy for Suzanne Torok-Burge (By Donna Parish)
Ross Thompson, Susan Idol, and I would like to recognize Highland, KS, for helping us care for Suzanne over her last years. If I tried to list the people who helped, I would leave someone out. You all know who you are. It is unfortunate that we too often remember the very ill as they were in their last days. So let's go back to Suzanne pre-cancer.
She was a brilliant and eccentric woman who was highly educated and well-informed. I sometimes imagine myself as highly educated and well-informed; and then I would spend an evening with Brenda Hines and Suzanne. I would keep up with the swirling conversation of books, movies, art, theater, music, and philosophers for about 10 minutes. After those 10 minutes, I would be writing titles on napkins for about 10 more minutes, then give up and just sit and listen.
Suzanne was an excellent teacher. When she first got sick, I drove her to Johnson County Community College one night a week for her classes. Every night she had the scarf on her head tied in a different way that always looked just right. On the trip I would ask her what the plan was for her classes that evening. The plans would be some amazing creative exercise that I would never have considered. Yes, lesson plans are what teachers often discuss. As she became too ill to teach, Suzanne said, "It's just as well, Donna. Sitting a student at a computer is not my idea of teaching." Many of Suzanne's students at Johnson County and at Highland were urban black students. She could rap with them. More than once on Highland Main Street, a 6 foot six black student would holler, "Miss T, Miss T," and come rushing up to visit with her.
I have so many memories: One warm spring day we were going to Kansas City. I was in jeans. She came out of her house dressed head to foot in velvet. She then said, "Oh, my, it's a little warm for velvet. I'll go change." She then came out trailing yards of chiffon. We had parties in her house where we ate exotic hors d'oeuvres in front of the fireplace and hoped the house didn't burn down. We listened to her tell entertaining stories that we wondered if they were true, but we didn't care.
Suzanne Torok-Burge, if I can paraphrase from Dylan Thomas,
Wild women who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave women, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Suzanne raged against the dying of the light!
--
Suzanne Torok Burge's Master's Thesis: "An Analysis of the Acting Style of James O'Neill," Masters thesis, Kansas State University, 1976.
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