Suzanne Marie Leonard Veitengruber
January 21, 2021
Suzanne Marie Leonard Veitengruber was born on October 18, 1949 in Jersey City to Gloria and Robert Leonard. She is the older sister to Robert, Jr (Susan), Richard (deceased) and Christopher (Eileen). She was the beloved wife to George E. Veitengruber, Jr., mother to George, III (Heather) and Melissa Skrocki (Stephen) and grandmother to Mia, Kate & Jack Skrocki and Grayson & Jacob Veitengruber and beloved niece of Barbara DiPalo, Patricia Carson & Virginia Purcell.
Sue grew up in Denville, NJ, spending the summers competitively diving and winters skating on the lake. It is there that she met the love of her life, George – little did he know it when he threw her bike in the lake at 12 years old. George and Sue were together for the last 54 years and married 49 years. Suzanne was a graduate of Morris Catholic and Upsala College, where she later served as the Alumni Director.
After attending her first school board meeting in Howell, she came home and declared she was either running for the Board or moving. Needless to say that the start of a long and accomplished career dedicated to public service in government. Sue was elected to the Howell Township School Board of Education in 1981 and continued on to serve as a Howell Township Councilwoman and then the first female Republican mayor of Howell Township in 1991. She went on to become the Township Administration and/or CFO for the towns of Tabernacle, Keansburg, North Brunswick, Clementon & Shrewsbury. She loved to share her love of municipal administration and became a professor for Rutgers University Center for Executive Leadership in Government, where she served for 25 years.
Suzanne was the president of the Newbury School PTA and Land O’ Pines PTO, an organizer for the Howell Education Development Foundation and for the Thanksgiving & Easter/Passover meal preparation for Howell senior citizens, a member of the Manasquan River Regional Sewage Authority and a dedicated fundraiser and advocate for the Howell PBA, who honored her with a Silver Badge. She was a tireless and dedicated advocate for the growth and development of Howell Township – a place that she called home for 45 years.
Sue and her family spent 39 summers at the Candlewood Swim Club and she was a beloved member of the Candlewood Crazies. She and her husband have been further blessed with wonderful neighbors, who have become beloved friends over the decades.
Suzanne and George loved to travel. Starting with a legendary three week cross country trip with their 8 month old son, a dog, two fish and a tent after George completed his service with the Air Force in California to return to their home state of New Jersey. Throughout their life together, Sue and George were fortunate enough to travel the world including trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, Ireland, Germany, Nova Scotia, Italy, Portugal, Paris, London, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Mexico & Grecian Isles.
Despite her work and volunteering obligations, she never missed a game, meet or show of her children or grandchildren. She was beyond of proud to be called Gigi by her 5 grandchildren and of all of the accomplishments of her children. She threw legendary tailgates and holiday gatherings and welcomed countless family, friends and friends of friends into her home over the years. She will be greatly missed by so many.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the:
Howell PBA
PO Box 94
Howell, NJ 07731
Sue grew up in Denville, NJ, spending the summers competitively diving and winters skating on the lake. It is there that she met the love of her life, George – little did he know it when he threw her bike in the lake at 12 years old. George and Sue were together for the last 54 years and married 49 years. Suzanne was a graduate of Morris Catholic and Upsala College, where she later served as the Alumni Director.
After attending her first school board meeting in Howell, she came home and declared she was either running for the Board or moving. Needless to say that the start of a long and accomplished career dedicated to public service in government. Sue was elected to the Howell Township School Board of Education in 1981 and continued on to serve as a Howell Township Councilwoman and then the first female Republican mayor of Howell Township in 1991. She went on to become the Township Administration and/or CFO for the towns of Tabernacle, Keansburg, North Brunswick, Clementon & Shrewsbury. She loved to share her love of municipal administration and became a professor for Rutgers University Center for Executive Leadership in Government, where she served for 25 years.
Suzanne was the president of the Newbury School PTA and Land O’ Pines PTO, an organizer for the Howell Education Development Foundation and for the Thanksgiving & Easter/Passover meal preparation for Howell senior citizens, a member of the Manasquan River Regional Sewage Authority and a dedicated fundraiser and advocate for the Howell PBA, who honored her with a Silver Badge. She was a tireless and dedicated advocate for the growth and development of Howell Township – a place that she called home for 45 years.
Sue and her family spent 39 summers at the Candlewood Swim Club and she was a beloved member of the Candlewood Crazies. She and her husband have been further blessed with wonderful neighbors, who have become beloved friends over the decades.
Suzanne and George loved to travel. Starting with a legendary three week cross country trip with their 8 month old son, a dog, two fish and a tent after George completed his service with the Air Force in California to return to their home state of New Jersey. Throughout their life together, Sue and George were fortunate enough to travel the world including trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, Ireland, Germany, Nova Scotia, Italy, Portugal, Paris, London, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Mexico & Grecian Isles.
Despite her work and volunteering obligations, she never missed a game, meet or show of her children or grandchildren. She was beyond of proud to be called Gigi by her 5 grandchildren and of all of the accomplishments of her children. She threw legendary tailgates and holiday gatherings and welcomed countless family, friends and friends of friends into her home over the years. She will be greatly missed by so many.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the:
Howell PBA
PO Box 94
Howell, NJ 07731