Suzanne Mckenna Phd

"The Lord is good to me and so, I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need, the sun and rain and an apple seed. The Lord's been good to me." - Johnny Appleseed Song, Disney

Dr. Suzanne McKenna; “Doc”, “MS”, “Tutu” , age 82, passed away on April 14, 2025 after a prolonged disability due to an accident in 2002. She was residing in Minneapolis, MN when she passed. Suzanne leaves behind "Child of my Heart" daughter Noeulalani Tallen, son in law Benjamin Tallen, granddaughter Evelyn Tallen, nephew Michael Thomas, and dear friends Carolyn Turkanis and Marie Fulmer. 

Suzanne was a fierce feminist who fought for equal rights for women and children, access to Planned Parenthood, teacher's rights, school access, and arts funding. She loved to discuss movies, plays, musicals, and TV, reading books, philosophy, and the mysticism of the IChing. She also loved the idea of evolving through feminine power in the triple Goddess Archetype as the maiden, the mother, and the crone. She embodied these parts of herself to the fullest.  Her heroes were Katherine Hepburn, her childhood best friend Kathy (who passed in her 30s of a lifelong heart defect), and Ms Piggy.

She lived in may places including Utah, New Mexico, California, Canada, and Minnesota, but her heart remained in Hawaii. She went to BYU Hawaii (BA), University of New Mexico (MA)  and the University of Utah (PHD). She was a phenomenal Teacher and Professor of Theater Arts. She directed and acted throughout her life, teaching at Olympus High School, Brighton High School, Mission San Jose High School, and Salt Lake Community College as Department Head. She was devoted to teaching children how to act and how to become empathetic and caring humans. She was one of the original teaching staff for Theatre School for Youth at the U of U, and original creator and Artistic Director for Junior Shakespeare Company in Utah.

She was a devoted yet inexperienced car-side camper, avid nature lover, and literal tree hugger. She was a poet and storyteller. And a devout lover of animals and babies. She was the ultimate mama bear; children would scatter when they saw her coming because she heard her daughter crying. She did the hula and loved road trips. She raised kitties who came to her for help, even though she was miserably allergic. She took in all the strays, animals and people. She was a counselor and life coach to so many. A compassionate soul and caring mother. 

She is profoundly missed.

A memorial gathering will be held in Utah in the Summer of 2026. In lew of flowers, please donate to your favorite non-profit theater company or Youth Arts program.