Susan Machado Obituary

Machado
SUSAN ANN MACHADO
December 4, 1945 November 24, 2020
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend of many, Susan Ann Machado passed away on November 24, 2020. She was a Colorado Springs resident for more than 30 years. Susan was born in Hartford, Connecticut on December 4, 1945 to Ray Burke Saunders and Catherine Regina Foley Saunders. She was married for over 51 years to Colonel Joseph A. Machado III. They were married in St Croix, US Virgin Islands on February 1, 1969.
Susan graduated from St Patrick's High School, Frederiksted, St Croix in 1964. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA in 1968. She was awarded a Master Degree in Education in Guidance and Counseling from University of South Carolina in 1975. Susan was a teacher in Laredo,TX; Tachikawa, Japan; Sumter, SC; Bedford, MA; Dover, DE; and Bitburg, Germany. She started her 20 year Civil Service career in Bitburg AB Germany where she was a Family Life and Financial Counselor in the Family Support Center. She continued as a family counselor at Bolling AFB, DC and then Peterson AFB, CO when the family was assigned to Colorado Springs in 1990. In 1996 she became the USAF Space Command Director of the Drug Demand Reduction Program for all
Space Command installations worldwide. She retired in 2004 as a GS-12. While Susan had a stellar career as an educator and counselor, she was an outstanding Air Force wife and mother following Joe around the world. She was a compassionate, caring, and loving person. She also could be a mischievous, energetic, fiery natural redhead.
Susan is survived by her loving husband and best friend Joe, sister Patricia Saunders of St Croix, her two sons Joseph of New York City and Jason, daughter in law Deborah, two grandsons Tristan and Jackson living in Centennial, CO.
Susan has many friends and also loved helping people and teaching. She supported many local charities including the Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, Care and Share, Springs Rescue Mission, and Pillar Institute for Lifelong Learning. She was an active member of Cordera Friends Over Fifty and the Gray Wolves Camping Club. She loved reading, painting, music, dancing, RV camping, sudoko puzzles, playing dominos and board games.
Services for Susan will be at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery on December 15, 2020 at 11:00 am for family and close friends. The family will have a larger memorial service to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gary Sinise Foundation, Homefront Cares, Mt Carmel Veterans Service Center or Fisher House.