Susanne Schambs

Susanne Schambs (nee Kern) 97, passed away unexpectedly on June 3, 2025. She was born on August 15, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio to loving parents, August “Gus” Kern and Lydia Oestermeyer. She grew up attending Cleveland Heights schools and spending summers with her family on Rose Point in Georgian Bay, Canada. At Michigan State University, she majored in Psychology, joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and, much to her chagrin, was voted Homecoming Queen. 

She went to work at the Hotel Carter and a Cleveland financial firm, then had a long career as Secretary of the Northeastern Ohio Tennis Assn., the local branch of the United States Tennis Assn. She was tournament director of the Plain Dealer and National Amateur Hardcourt Championships and worked with the Northeastern Ohio Patrons which raised funds for grassroots tennis and other worthy causes, like the National Tennis Foundation (connected to the Tennis Hall of Fame) and the Greater Cleveland Tennis Assn. which brought national and international tennis to Cleveland. She could be seen annually in the same front row at the US Open Tennis Tournament in Flushing Meadows. 

She was an avid gardener, swimmer, seamstress, cook and mother. She had a subtle sense of humor and was known for unstoppable laughter. For the last ten years, she enjoyed living at Breckenridge Village in Willoughby, where her friends called her sweet, classy and independent. She served as the Secretary of the Social Committee for years. She spearheaded the addition of a walking path around the property and always took the high road. She enjoyed time watching her grandchildren grow up and attending their school, sports and theater/arts events. 

Sue is survived by sons Gary Schambs (Faith Pescatore) of Suwanee, GA, and Paul Schambs Jr. (Mary Lynn Newsome) of Cleveland Hts., daughter Linda Hatch (Lawrence) of Shaker Hts. and brother Thomas Kern of Santa Barbara, CA. She will be missed by her beloved grandchildren Caroline Hatch (Remington Knight), August “Gus” Hatch and Natalie Schambs Kalfas. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Skylar Schambs. 

Services will be private. Arrangements handled by Brown-Forward. Interment at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in her memory to Breckenridge at Ohio Living Foundation, 9200 Worthington Road, Suite 300, Westerville, OH 43082. Website: Ohioliving.org/foundation/donate.