Obituary of Susan Howell Hamlin

It is with profound sadness that the family of Susan Howell Hamlin share the news of her passing on Sunday, March 9, 2025, after a very recent diagnosis of cancer. Sue was born in Plattsburgh, NY on August 7, 1937, to the late William Hull Howell and Mary Keenan Howell. She is survived by her sister, Bonnie Howell of Wake Forest, NC, daughters Lisa (Craig) Cundy of Horseheads, Amie Hamlin of Ithaca, and Julie (John) Luther of Franklin, MA; grandchildren Kyle (Steve Groth) Cundy, Blair Warner, Emily ‘Clover’ Luther, Duncan (Krista Galanti) Luther, and Meara Hamlin; great-grandchildren Stryker, Thaddeus, and Eleanor; and Sue’s longtime partner of forty years, Charles Winant.

Sue was an alum of Elmira College, graduating in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice, having returned to school when her children were older.

Her love of animals led to service with the Chemung County SPCA Board of Directors, and her subsequent hiring as Executive Director. In the six years as director, Sue accomplished groundbreaking initiatives including certification by the Humane Society of the United States. She introduced pet therapy in nursing homes and elderly housing - one of the earliest programs of this type in the country. Sue also initiated the school program for all elementary schools in Chemung County, teaching kindness to animals.

Sue then made a career move to Cornell as the Administrative Manager of the Veterinary College’s Baker Institute for Animal Health. Sue’s drive to Ithaca put wear and tear on her car. Knowing there were many people commuting between Elmira and Ithaca, she contacted Chemung County Transit and spearheaded the creation of the commuter bus that still runs today.

Retiring from Cornell in 2002, not one to sit still, and with a lifelong passion for community service, Sue became involved in volunteer work with the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society and more recently on the board of the Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. In her earlier life, she was an active member of the Junior League of Elmira and was instrumental in the fundraiser that kicked off the revitalization of the Powers Theater at the Clemens Center. She fulfilled a lifelong dream of being an airplane stewardess by volunteering for the National Warplane Museum and got to serve weekly on the Fuddy Duddy.

Having a love for dogs her entire life, Sue had bred, trained, and shown Afghan Hounds for many years, and was an AKC dog show judge spanning 52 years. In 2020, Sue implemented a program to bring Cornell Veterinary students to the Wine Country Dog Shows to educate them about quality pure bred dogs, still operational today.

Sue self-published ‘Welcome to the Witherill,’ a book about the hotel her family owned and operated for four generations in the North Country and edited a book of Afghan Hounds and another on Elmira’s role in the Civil War.

Sue was tremendously proud of her daughters and grandchildren. She was a self-described “very busy woman” who was very passionate about her interests and was always surprising us with her quick wit and how ahead of her time she was. She was always the best dressed lady at any event and could be seen weekly at Hill Top enjoying a glass of wine and conversation, or at a local hot dog joint. Her indominable spirit will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.

Calling hours will be at McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W Water Street, Elmira, on April 4, 2025, from 11-1pm.  A funeral service will follow at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, P O Box 947765, Atlanta GA 30394, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, and/or The Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp, P O Box 681, Elmira NY 14902.