Memorial

On October 27th, Susan Glaza Gordon, known to her friends in Eastern Iowa as “Goddess of Laughter and Light” lost her battle with cancer and died peacefully at the age of 68 at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.    

Susan’s infectious laughter, sharp wit and hilarious sense of humour captured the hearts of both friends and listeners of her radio shows over the years.   Glitter and bling flowed through her personality down to her famously manicured and seasonally decorated  fingernails.  She will be remembered by her assortment of rhinestone reading glasses and all things that sparkled in pink and purple. 

Susan is a graduate of Regis High School, class of 1972 and Mount Mercy University.   

Susan had a varied career starting out as a Promotions  Director and On-air Personality for KHAK radio.   She took a break from radio to run Gordon Restaurants, Inc together with her husband Alan Gordon.   

She went back into marketing at Trees are Forever in Marion, Iowa where she made more life-long friends  but the lure of radio was strong and she eventually ended up delighting audiences as Promotion Goddess/Diva of Afternoon Drive at KMRY.   Even her weather reports were something to look forward to.   

Susan’s off mic passion was food and cooking. It was a passion she shared with her husband Alan.   Together they owned Goodie 2 Shoes Pastry Shop, classic Creations Cooking and the original Rag Top Diner.   She was known for her delicious BBQ ribs and coconut shrimp, but maybe most for her out-of-this-world pudding cake.   

To say Susan will be missed is an understatement.   Those of us who loved her will now hear her distinctive, contagious laughter echoing in the hallways  of heaven.   As much as we hated to see her go this young, we are comforted knowing she is no longer suffering and has been reunited with her dad, Gerard J Glaza, her husband Alan and her beloved pets.  

Susan is survived by her mother, Jean Glaza, Cedar Rapids; her sisters Sann René Glaza, Hoeilaart, Belgium and Sarah Glaza, Denver CO;  sister-cousin Kathleen Bensch, Elgin, IL; step-daughter Rachel Gordon  Lindteigen and Rachel’s son Christopher, Phoenix AZ and nieces and nephews Jaqueline Shea, Keegan and Angela Shea, Simeon De Smet and Karlien De Smet. 

No formal memorial service is planned at this time.  

KMRY radio is establishing the Susan Gordon Memorial Scholarship.   For more information  or if you wish to contribute to this wonderful project please contact Jim Ecker at KMRY - jimecker@kmryradio.com.