Tribute: Remembering Suzanna Mann by Michelle Beaver, Editor




In mid-November 2014, the dental profession lost one of its most passionate members. Hygienist Suzanne Mann was near and dear to the Townie community and was dedicated to her craft. She graduated from Marquette University, in Milwaukee, when she was 20 years old and served in dentistry for close to 50 years.

Suzanne was one of the first 100 people to join Dentaltown.com and contributed a whopping 4,118 messages to the boards. Those posts showed dedication, personality, wisdom and experience. And some were darned funny.

Dentaltown founder Howard Farran described Suzanne in a Dentaltown message-board tribute as follows:
Suzanne Mann, RDH, whom everyone affectionately called Shazammer, was a true champion and advocate for dentistry, as well as an extraordinary friend. I cannot think of a single person who championed all things dentistry more than Suzanne. The last picture I have of Suzanne was from a lecture at the Wisconsin Dental Study Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, at the Geneva Grand Resort. She always sat in the front row wearing her homemade Townie blue-jean jacket, and it was on her 69th birthday! We surprised her with a birthday cake and the whole room sang her happy birthday.

Suzanne had her own take on that memorable event.
Well, if any of you are shy out there, don't tell Howard just before he starts his lecture that it is your birthday and your present to yourself is being there with him. You get famous in a hurry when he demands an entire ballroom sings Happy Birthday to you, says he will give anyone $10 who will get Suzanne a beer over the 10-a.m. break (I got three) and I started knocking 'em back before noon.

Needless to say, Suzanne had a good day.
"All in all the best damned birthday party I have ever had thanks to Howard and those wonderful supportive dental peeps I have met over the years," Suzanne wrote.

People who knew Suzanne mentioned how she'd gone out of her way for them over the years, and how her enthusiasm was infectious.
Many Townies commented on the Dentaltown message board tribute to Suzanne. Some comments follow:

"She was so articulate, smart, warm and loving. The angels are blessed to be in her company now."

"She was such an awesome person. She was a great hygienist and loved dentistry."

"Wow. I'll miss her great posts. It's funny how you can sense someone's passion through their posts … and hers was obvious. My condolences to her family, her patients and to all the Townies who knew her."

Oh my god, I am heartbroken to read this. Shazammer was seriously one of my favorite posters here on Dentaltown and Hygienetown since the beginning. She was so sweet—she even sent me handmade dishcloths for my wedding this year. One of the sweetest, most genuine people I have met. This is so sad."

And from Howard,

"She went to my lectures over a dozen times and always taught me many valuable lessons every time. Suzanne you are truly one of dentistry's 1,000 points of light. Thank you so much Suzanne for all that you have done for dentistry and for Dentaltown!"


It's hard to lose someone as authentic and enthusiastic as Suzanne. Fortunately, her positive nature influenced many in the community and will live on through them, her patients and loved ones.
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