Sue and sister, Gloria, are shown here, enjoying a special moment during Sue's 80th birthday celebration. At the close of Sue's memorial service, Gloria shared stories from their childhood including the fact that she kept asking their mother for a baby sister and therefore She was Sue's "idea."

Susanne Steinem Patch * February 19, 1925 - November 2, 2007

Sue Patch passed very peacefully on November 2nd. Sue's family, friends and many admirers attended a memorial service for Sue at the Christ Church Parish in Kensington on Saturday November 10th. Leland Street was represented by the attendance of several neighbors. including Barbara Fendrick with son, Peter, Henry and Dorothy Bedell, Ann Lee came with long time friends and former neighbors, Jack and Lois Coons, Vicky Taplin brought Marcy Forrest and Farrell Cosmas while Charles Duffy rode with Jimmy and Leanne Boland and Ben Delancy joined everyone at the church. Miriam Daniels and Larry Wolff regretted they were still in Israel at the time of the funeral but Miriam had the chance to personally say goodbye before she left for her trip.
The service was a collection of psalms, hymns and closed with heartfelt recollections from childhood by her sister Gloria Steinem followed by Sue’s son, Jeffrey sharing the story of Sue’s last two years leading up to her final days.
The service was followed by a reception in the lower level of the church where an open mike invited friends and family to share their thoughts and memories. It was interesting for all of us to hear new stories about Sue’s life and friendships and also it was healing to share the emotion of the day. Barbara Fendrick told some wonderful stories of her friendship with Sue dating back to when they were raising their children together.

Barbara is seen here sharing her story during the reception. Susan Patch and Calvin look on.


Soon after, a group of Leland Street neighbors, Marcy Forrest, Vicky Taplin and Barbara Fendrick led by Mary Olson shared stories of Sue and Leland Street traditions which Sue established such as the Food Co-op, Leland Street Sunday News and the Banana Split Party. Sue was credited with weaving a string of homes on Leland Street into a circle of friendship.

Later in the day, the ladies of Leland Street brought over a dinner for the thirty-eight family members of the Patch family.

Barbara Fendrick prepared a fish entree and Ann Lee made ratatouille. Vicky Taplin made the spaghetti for the children’s table. Marcy brought chocolate torte and flourless chocolate cake, Bonnie Duffy made her incredible brownies, Leanne Boland and Jill Bateman honored the banana split party tradition by gathering all the fixings for banana splits including Jill’s preparation of the hot chocolate sauce from Sue’s own recipe, while Vicky Taplin and Farrell prepared the Patch family favorite angel food cake with fresh berries and whipped cream.
Susan and Calvin were there to receive the dinner and greet the ladies as they filled the kitchen counter with the dinner trays.

Will Power!!!

Jubliant congratulations to Will Cosmas with the recent news that he has passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam!
Photo above shows Will with his proud family, Lisa, Farrell, Jennie and Bill.

Here is yet another kind of Will Power....

William Strother # 5 of St Albans scrambling with the ball in a recent game against Episcopal High School

AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT BY LINDA LANNOM IS ACKNOWLEDGED!

Linda's very proud friend, Anne Lippold, shared the news that Linda Lannom has passed the Maryland Bar Exam with such an exemplary score that she does not have to take the Washington, D.C. Bar Exam. Congratulations to Linda, Enjoy the champagne!

Jim Strother found these two reports on the sudden emergency evacuation of Leland Street neighbors....read details below:
Chevy Chase Gas Leak-Evacuation
Last Edited: Thursday, 01 Nov 2007, 4:03 PM EDT
Created: Thursday, 01 Nov 2007, 3:58 PM EDT
Developing Story
CHEVY CHASE, Md. (AP) -- At least a dozen homes have been evacuated in Chevy Chase after a construction crew apparently broke a six-inch underground gas line.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer says rescuers were called to the scene about 2:30 p.m. He says more evacuations might be necessary if the gas leak is not contained.
It's not clear how long people will be kept out of their homes.
Piringer says Washington Gas crews are on the scene but will have to excavate in the area to find the source of the leak. It happened on Leland Street in Chevy Chase between East-West Highway and Bradley Lane.

Residents were given about three minutes notice to vacate their home. The situation had us all on our cell phones making arrangements for all things scheduled for the afternoon from the children's car pools to cab rides out of the area till the situation was corrected. No one was permitted to use their cars. Everyone was rushed to the furthest ends of the block. Falk was running with one barefoot and one sock. Vicky was in stocking feet. Arthur Forrest was wearing his comfy bedroom slippers. Knut was concerned about being able to get his suitcase for a flight later that evening.
Jill Bateman, Jim Strother, Bill Cosmas all had their dogs on leashes. Linda Lannom craddled her cat in her arms the whole while and Arthur and Marcy Forrest had their cats in a cat tote. Barbara Fendrick kindly gave the Forrests a ride into Bethesda where, by amazing coincidence they had their car recently tuned up at Community Auto Shop and it was ready for pick up. Maggie Simpson phoned Michael to handle the after school pick up and Mary Stuart Proctor was busy on the phone making her own arrangements. One group of neighbors was rushed to Meadow Lane end of the block and another group of neighbors found safe harbor under the pergola in Florence Lloyd's garden. Molly Strother and Farrell Cosmas were just returning home after their afternoon activities elsewhere when they discovered the street under emergency mode. They parked their cars away from Leland Street and then walked up to Florence's home and joined the group seated in her garden.

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007
Gas main break evacuates 12 houses in Chevy Chase
by Audrey Dutton | Staff Writer
Emergency responders evacuated 18 people and six pets from houses in Chevy Chase after a gas leak was reported along the 4100 block of Leland Street this afternoon.
The incident caused no injuries or fires, according to Pete A. Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman.
A Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission contractor struck a high-pressure gas line beneath the pavement on Leland Street while doing work around 2:30 p.m., Piringer said.
‘‘We currently have crews out there repairing the line.”
Several streets in the immediate vicinity were closed for several hours, and fire and rescue personnel remained in the area as of early evening.

HALLOWEEN GETS OFF TO A FINE START WITH COSTUMES, PARADE, GAMES, HAUNTED HOUSE AND A BOUNTIFUL BUFFET

A very Grand Marshall, wonderful costumes, prizes, games, spooky happenings in the Payne Haunted House all made for a fun filled afternoon for all who shared the day.

The parade was followed by the Payne family's very warm welcome to their very spooky, creepy, haunted house. The children's reaction ranged from delighted to terrified to feeling brave to have survived the tour of 4138 Leland Street's lower level.

Special culinary treats started with donuts in the afternoon and ended with toasted marshmellows in the evening.

The ladies of Leland Street provided a delicious buffet dinner enjoyed after dark with wine and lively conversation.


Earlier in the day there was a brief sighting of dear friends and former neighbors of 4117 Leland Street, Bob and Sylvia Jones.