Susan Laura Zuege

Sue passed away peacefully at her home in Seattle with her husband, Jim Dobson and stepson Dominic present. She was 77 years old.

Born to Charles and Rose Zuege in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sue grew up with her younger sister, Judy. She earned a BA and MSW from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Along with her first husband, Randy Eckes, Sue moved to Seattle in 1975 and worked with Family Services of King County (now Wellspring), for over a decade.  There she helped create the Domestic Violence clinical team and led groups for women in abusive situations.

Always an Anglophile, Sue developed a passion for tea and set upon a new career path by opening The Perennial Tea Room in the Pike Place Market with her former coworker and great friend Julee Rosanoff. Sue loved the life of a shopkeeper, and for 26 years she enjoyed introducing customers to new teas, ordering stock and planning events. She was instrumental in the creation of the Northwest Tea Festival. Additionally, she served on the Pike Place Market Historical commission for many years.

Among her interests were travel, gardening and cooking. Some of her and Jim’s favorite destinations included the Orkney Islands, England, Italy and the Canadian Maritimes.  Every spring she would enthusiastically plan new additions to her garden and enjoy the return of some of her cherished plants. Sue’s dinner parties were always a delight, both menu and conversation-wise. Her wit, generosity and sense of humor filled a room with a welcoming warmth.

Sue was an avid reader with a penchant for Louise Penny mysteries and Nigel Slater cookbooks. Committed to social justice and a fair democracy, she served as precinct captain in the Ravenna neighborhood for the 43rdDistrict Democrats.

Sue is survived by her husband, Jim Dobson, his children Dominic Dobson, Desiree Damico (Greg), and Patrick Dobson, her nieces Becky Kuglitsch and Linnea Kuglitsch, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Rose Zuege, her sister Judy, and her first husband Randy Eckes.

To honor her memory please donate to the ACLU or the Sierra Club.