Susan Martin Haberlandt

February 19, 1950 - November 6, 2019

Susan Martin Haberlandt, beloved sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, a pioneer and life-long leader in education, died peacefully on November 6 at Hartford Hospital following a long illness. Susan was born on February 19, 1950 in Providence, RI, as the middle child of five to John Martin, a physician, and his wife, Elizabeth, a homemaker and, for decades after John’s death, the family matriarch. Susan was raised in Norwich, CT, in a loving and open-minded family who supported Susan’s professional aspirations and social engagement throughout her life. Susan attended Norwich Free Academy where she was elected as the first female President of the Senior Class in 1966. She went on to Goucher College in Baltimore, where she tutored students in city schools, participated in protests, and was awakened to the issues of war, segregation, and injustice. Later in life Susan would teach her students, and her family, about the transformative power of the Civil Rights movement, a subject of lifelong interest and inspiration for her. Susan next transferred to Trinity College in Hartford in the first year that Trinity began admitting female students. At Trinity, Susan designed her own major in American Studies, graduating in 1971, and later received a M.A. in History. Her versatile talents extended to athletics, and as an undergraduate she was co-captain of Women’s tennis. The Trinity faculty named the prestigious Susan E. Martin award in her honor. Presented annually to the best woman scholar-athlete at the College, over 40 women have received this award thus far. A gifted teacher and natural leader, Susan started her career at Trinity, where she served as Assistant and then Associate Director of Admissions from 1972-80. Starting in 1985, Susan devoted her talents to independent schools. She served at Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, first as Director of College Advising, then as Academic Dean and as Director of the Upper School, while also teaching a popular course on U.S. History to juniors. In 1998 she was installed under the auspices of Senator John Chafee as the first female Head of School at the Providence Day Country School (PCD) in East Providence, Rhode Island, where she served as Head and continued to teach, offering an occasional course on the 1960s, until her retirement in 2011. Susan also served as a trustee of independent schools, including The French American School of Rhode Island, Sophia Academy in Providence, and Watkinson School in West Hartford and held leadership roles in professional organizations. Throughout her many endeavors, Susan was guided by her devotion to students and their teachers. She believed deeply in the power of good schools to make an enduring difference in the lives of students. Wherever she served, she fostered a community rich in relationships. Susan excelled as an administrator, combining vision for the long-term with attention to the daily details of school life. She did not shy away from difficult decisions, but made them with understanding and compassion. She was welcoming to everyone, and was admired and beloved by students, teachers, and parents alike. A few years ago, one of Susan’s colleagues captured her well in saying that she had a spirit of “Bring it on!”. That was part of her bedrock ethos, irrespective of the arena. As all who knew her can attest, in good health and in sickness, she would always “lean in” to any task or challenge confronting her – and help (often, nudge) others to do the same. She was an intrepid traveler, an avid follower of golf, tennis and politics, and a fierce competitor, whether in sports or board games—and could not abide losing, even to her grandchildren. Susan was fun and funny, with a keen sense of humor, great in repartee, and an infectious laugh. She would regularly hold forth at the dinner table, was a gifted mimic – known for channeling her inner 80s-era Schwarzenegger to produce hilarious imitations of her husband’s booming voice and German accent – and a master punster, delighting in provoking eye-rolls in her audiences. Above all, she loved her family. She was the love of Karl’s life, her husband of 44 years. She was a tenacious believer in, and advocate for, her kids. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Haberlandt, son and daughter-in-law, Peter Martin Haberlandt and Sarah Kline Morgan, and their children Susan and Lou. She is also survived by her four siblings, Nancy Peavy (Bob), William T. Martin (Dilys Burke), Kathy Martin and Jane Shea (Peter), and a large extended family in the U.S. and Germany. She will remain part of all who loved her. A memorial service will be held at Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland St., Hartford, on Saturday, November 23 at 3:00 PM. Reception will follow at the Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Immanuel or to Providence Country Day School.