36       

LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL

SUSANNE ELIZABETH 
COLLIER-LAKEMAN ’76
Susanne passed 
away April 1, 2014
surrounded by family 
at Simi Valley Hospital.
She began her career 
as a ballerina studying 
with Maria Kedrina 
and made her stage 
debut at the Lobero 
Theatre at the age 
of 4 in the children’s 
Parpignol Chorus of 

the Santa Barbara Civic Opera Association production 
of La Bohème. Susanne continued her ballet training 
with Ernestina Fenzi, Tamara Usher (Kinsell) and at 
the Hanlin Studios. She was a principal dancer with 
the Santa Barbara Ballet Theatre, directed by Tamara 
Usher, performing such roles as Queen of the Wilis 
in Giselle and the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, both 
at the Lobero and on tour. Concurrent with her ballet 
career, she studied the piano with Louise McDermott 
and Lloyd Browning, and took part in a summer class 
taught by Reginald Stewart at the Music Academy 
of the West. Susanne was educated at the Howard 
School, Laguna Blanca School, and Westmont College, 
graduating in 1980 with a double major in english
Literature and Ballet.

 

Following her stage career, Susanne pursued 

graduate studies at the Shakespeare Institute, 
University of Birmingham, England where she earned 
her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Renaissance 
Studies. Her thesis was entitled Theophanies in 
english Plays: 1600 – 1640. While in england, she
taught for Westmont College’s Semester in England 
and at the London Program for the University of Notre 
Dame.
 

Returning to the United States, she taught for 

three years at the University of New Hampshire, 
Durham before joining the faculty at California State 
University, Northridge in 1990. She was promoted to
associate professor in 1994, and granted tenure in 
1996. In 1999, she was the recipient of a University 
Ambassadors Polished Apple award and in 2001 was
promoted to full professor.
 

She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi 

episcopal Church in Simi Valley where she served as a
lector.
 

Susanne is survived by her sisters Mary 

Blackwood Collier and Sarah Collier Heatwole; three
nieces, Mary Phyllis Heatwole Duplissis, Elizabeth 
Collier Heatwole Coppins, and Anna Bell Heatwole;
and three grand-nieces, Sara Jane Coppins, Piper 
Grove Coppins, and Amelia Adele Duplissis.

JULIANNE WARD NELSON ’86

 
Julianne Ward Nelson lived her 45 years with beauty,
generosity, joy, and love. Born in Oslo, Norway on July 
15, 1968, Julianne grew up in Los Angeles, graduated
from UCSD and received her Juris Doctorate Degree 
from California Western School of Law. An avid 
equestrian and world traveler, Julianne married 
Marchus Nelson of Napa in 2005. A member of the
California Bar Association, Julianne worked most 
recently as a planner for the City of Napa, where 
she helped craft the long-range plan for downtown 
redevelopment. She was active in her neighborhood 
association, her children’s school, and charities 
raising money for cancer research.

 

Julianne’s friendships, many of which spanned over decades and 

continents, flourished from her warmth and grace.

Julianne died February 5, 2014 after four years striving to create as full a

life as possible for her family while courageously managing cancer. She defined 
herself not as a patient, but rather by her devotion as a wife, daughter, sister, 
aunt and friend — and especially as the mother of Adam (8) and Matthew (5)
whose care she put before all else.
 

Pamela Brinks ’86 adds, “Julianne’s classmates will miss her joy, laughter, 

and smile. She was a wonderful person.”

Memorial contributions 
to assist Julianne’s 
family can be made 
payable to:

UBS Financial Services
703 Trancas Street
Napa, California 94558
Please include a memo 
reading “Julianne’s 
Memorial Fund.”

Donations also can 
be made to her sons’ 
school:

Blue Oak School
1436 Polk Street
Napa, California 94559
Please note your 
donation is 
“In Memory of Julianne 
Ward Nelson.” 

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