EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) - After fighting cancer for years, a prominent Eugene woman Suzanne Arlie has passed away. Now she's being remembered for her role in local development and charity.
Suzanne Arlie died on Tuesday, March 5 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 49 years old.
Many people knew Arlie in the community as a businesswoman, a volunteer and a philanthropist. In the real estate world, Suzanne was president of Arlie & Co. Arlie and her late husband John Musumici developed Crescent Village on the north end of Eugene.
Outside of work, Arlie created the Golden Ribbon Foundation which helps women with gynecological cancers gain access to holistic treatments like massage and yoga.
Arlie also worked with the Relief Nursery where she made friends with former Executive Director Jean Phelps. Phelps says Arlie worked to help others even while battling cancer.
“She provided a path for others to follow to do good and to not just do good with trying to give a little bit of money, but to do good with every bit of your being, that you really care and you're really going to work hard,” said Phelps.
Even as Arlie's disease progressed, Phelps said she still had the fight in her. According to Phelps, when she was being transported from the hospital to her home, instead of riding in a wheelchair in the transport van, Arlie pulled herself out of the chair by herself, opting to ride in the front seat instead. Phelps said it showed her determination to keep living a normal life even while fighting cancer.
Arlie also helped manage a charitable trust that benefits several local groups including Lane Community College, Food for Lane County, WomenSpace, Relief Nursery and others. In the future, a Eugene community park south of LCC will be named after her.
