Florence Suzanna McElwee Bahner, after 93 wonderful years of life, love and inspiration, finished this life’s journey early in the morning on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, so that the full moon marking the season’s change could guide her to rejoin all those who waited for her by the Rainbow Bridge, especially her beloved husband Dave, her parents Florence and William McElwee, her brother Richard and sister-in-law Helen, her niece Sheila and nephew Brian, and Sputnik, Hunter, Tanner and Chompfers.
Acerbically witty, insightful and creative, she graduated high school at 16 and immediately began to build a remarkable career and an amazing life. The daughter of Irish immigrants and a survivor of the Depression, Sue later met, interviewed, and consulted with four U.S. presidents. She served on the Executive Committee of the National Religious Broadcasters, for whom she traveled all over the world, and was the recipient of the William Ward Ayer Award for Distinguished Service, presented for excellence and integrity for outstanding and significant contributions to the field of Christian communications.
Sue served on the boards of both the Greater Syracuse and NYS Association of Evangelicals, was the first female president of the National Religious Broadcasters’ (NRB) Eastern chapter, and served as chair of the NRB Radio Committee and as a long-time member of the board of directors. She managed radio station WYRD in Syracuse, and WWWG and WDCW in Rochester – and then set up her own media consulting company after she “retired!”
A founding member of Eastern Hills Bible Church in Manlius, she was very active with the Women’s Connection, worked with the Youth Group, taught Sunday School, and with husband Dave led the rousing Sunday night singing!
Among her many other achievements, she was a credentialed journalist at the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic Games in Lake Placid, had her name in lights in Times Square, and prayed with political leaders in both the Kremlin and the Knesset. Proud of her Irish heritage, she co-founded the CNY chapter of the Irish American Cultural Institute and helped establish a Christian radio station in Ireland. Leaba i measc naomh na hÉireann go raibh aici. May she sleep among the saints of Ireland.
She was tough as nails, relentless, brilliant and thoughtful. Generous but measured, her dry, clever humor, wry grin, and deep interest in others made everything an opportunity to learn or to teach. Hers was a wise, thoughtful and caring heart. Along with the many others whose lives were touched by her, her grateful family – daughter Suzi Harriff and husband Jim, daughter and son-in-law Caryl and Sean Bahner-Guhin, grandson Michael Harriff, and her nieces and nephews, Jeanne and Jim Gallagher and Bruce and Linda McElwee, together with their children – honors her life and legacy with deep gratitude.
Come and celebrate her life with a time of sharing and remembrance on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 4-7 p.m. at B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, 10 Genesee Street in Camillus, with a service of resurrection Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. at Mission Hope Community, 23 Main Street in Camillus.
In her honor, contributions may be made to the Blessing Fund of Mission Hope Community, 23 Main Street, Camillus, NY 13031, to the Dave and Sue Bahner Music Fund at Manlius Pebble Hill School, 5300 Jamesville Rd, Syracuse, NY 13214 or to the Long Pond Conservancy, c/o Champlain Area Trails, P.O. Box 193, Westport, NY 12993.
Please sign her guestbook at blbush.com.
