To our campus community:
It is with sadness we report the passing of Suzee Louche, a “true icon of Florida Tech” who spent the bulk of her 24 years here as a cherished and essential assistant to presidents and a key contributor to the successful operation of the entire university.
“She knew everything about and everybody at this great institution,” said President Emeritus Anthony Catanese, for whom Ms. Louche was chief of staff for 14 years, her longest tenure with a single president. “If you wanted something done, you went to Suzee.”
Ms. Louche came to Florida Tech in March 1993 for a job as an administrative assistant in the development office (later university advancement).
In November 1996, her title and department changed: Assistant to the President based in the Office of the President. She would work for no other office the remaining 21 years of her time at Florida Tech.
She first supported Lynn Weaver, Florida Tech’s third president, in the final six or so years of his 15-year tenure, which concluded in 2002.
Then came Anthony James Catanese. A collegial and visionary leader who had helped Florida Atlantic University boom with students and campuses as president, he arrived at Florida Tech in 2002.
Ms. Louche soon was serving as his chief of staff, a role she would hold for the next 14 years. (She also was university ombudsman for two years during this time.) She was an icon, he said, and utterly indispensable.
“She was the one who helped to set the agendas, meet the deadlines and be certain that everything we did was (above reproach),” Catanese said. “Whether it was trustee, faculty, staff or students, Suzee was there to serve them and help them.”
External Affairs Vice President Wes Sumner worked with Ms. Louche for nine years until her retirement. As vice president of marketing and communications for much of that time, Sumner often had occasion, thankfully, to seek her guidance.
“She was really the signature events and protocol expert for Florida Tech,” he said. “She had an innate understanding of what constituted a properly executed university occasion. Her attention to detail was unmatched, and she inspired everyone around her to make things better.”
She also had a vein of good humor, as Catanese recalled in sharing one of his favorite stories involving Ms. Louche. University leadership was gathered for a retreat and undertook a classic ice breaker: each person said what their nickname was in college.
“Well, many of us had different names,” he recalled. “For example, I was Ace. Suzee said, ‘My nickname was Legs because I had the best legs of anyone in my college.’ She brought down the house with that observation.”
Catanese was named President Emeritus in June 2016.
Ms. Louche retired June 30, 2017.
“We will always remember and love Suzee,” Catanese said.
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If a public remembrance is held for Ms. Louche, we will provide information to the campus community. No details are available at this time.
