Orin M. Sussman

Orin Michael Sussman passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Colonie on October 1, 2023, just 3 weeks shy of his 89th birthday. His faithful canine companion, Lucky, was by his side.

He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Alice (Heine) Sussman in 2016 and his son in law, John Kwiatkowski in 2022. Mourning his passing are his children Rene' (Ana) Sussman, Barbara (Gerry) Schwerdt, and Susan Kwiatkowski; grandchildren Andre' (Claudia) Sussman, Shawn (Christina) Gordon, Evan (Brooke) Gordon, Natalie (Jonathan) Sussman; great grandchildren Claire, Grant, and Eleanor Gordon. He is also survived by his sister, Naomi (late Jack) Osgood, sister-in-law, Mildred (late Perry) Perez, and Goddaughter, Jen (Louis) Lynch, scores of neighbors and special friends, numerous cousins, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews who knew him as "Uncle Mike".

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Orin was raised there as well as in Philadelphia for a short time. He attended trade school which prepared him for a long career in the newspaper printing industry. He participated in scouting for many years which likely solidified his appreciation of nature in all its forms especially fishing, hunting, camping, and kayaking.

Orin met Alice at a church event on Staten Island. Their relationship withstood his absence after he was drafted and served in the United States Army. He was very proud of his veteran status.

As a young married couple, Orin and Alice relocated to upstate New York. Because of his love of farming, they began to turn their 2 acre plot of land in Colonie into a mini farm, raising chickens and sheep, growing an enormous vegetable garden, cutting down trees and splitting wood. They transformed their 3 bedroom summer cottage into a year round, 6 bedroom, 2 bath home, complete with 2 wood burning stoves. He worked all summer to ensure that there would be enough firewood to heat the house all winter. The whole family used to spend late summers blanching and freezing fresh vegetables to enjoy them in the months ahead.

While living downstate, Orin was employed by the New York Post. Once they relocated upstate, he worked for the former Knickerbocker News which ultimately became known as The Times Union. After more than 30 years of employment there, he retired from printing and embarked on a new pastime that brought him great joy • delivering new cars to dealerships and customers up and down the East coast. Traveling the world was also a retirement activity that Orin enjoyed with Alice. Since he had a knack for linguistics, visiting dozens of countries provided many opportunities for him to utilize and hone his skills.

Orin was a member of the Midway Rescue Squad many years ago. More recently, he was a member of Lisha's Kill Reformed Church where he contributed to the success of the canine socialization program "Going to the Dogs". He was a fervent dog lover and owned many over the years. Most recently, he had an affinity for Newfoundlands and loved to share them with others which lead him to become a dedicated member of the Ambassa-dog program at the Albany International Airport.

Please help celebrate his life with his family on Saturday with a visitation from 9 to 11 am at Cannon Funeral Home, 2020 Central Ave., Colonie. Funeral services will commence at 11:00 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Orin's memory may be sent to That Newfoundland Place (www.thatnewfoundlandplace.org) or Lisha's Kill Reformed Church 2131 Central Ave., Schenectady, NY 12304.