Suzan Beard Bryant passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 19, 2021, surrounded by family. She was 87 years old.

Suzan Bryant was an avid and accomplished artist and tireless advocate for the arts.
Suzan Bryant was an avid and accomplished artist and tireless advocate for the arts. Credit: Bryant family photo

Suzie was born Suzan Benedict Beard in New York City on June 10, 1934, to Elizabeth Fiske Cort and Jeremiah Robinson Beard. She was a graduate of Westover School and Vassar College.

After spending 13 years on the East Coast (New York and Princeton, New Jersey), Suzie returned to her beloved Santa Barbara, California, in 1976.

Suzie was an avid and accomplished artist and tireless advocate for the arts. Her paintings have been shown at multiple venues in the Santa Barbara area over the past four decades. She was also a devoted volunteer to many organizations in and around Santa Barbara.

She is survived by her son, Robinson Bryant, and daughter, Kelley Bryant, and daughter-in-law, Cindy Schlaefer; sister, Linda Brandi; grandchildren Jennifer Graham and Alex Bryant; and great-grandchildren Astara, Bodhi and Suede.

Her sharp wit, great humor and endless curiosity will be very much missed by her family and the many friends who loved her.

Donations in her honor can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation or the Hearing Health Foundation.