Susan Gaynor

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It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of Susan Ehrlich Gaynor, age 85, who died peacefully surrounded by her family on January 5, 2026.

Susan was born on December 6, 1940, in Bethesda, Maryland, and was the daughter of the late Robert Ehrlich and Francis (Lantor) Ehrlich.

Susan was the cherished mother of Kim Malkin and her husband Drew of West Hartford, Connecticut, and Bradley Gaynor and his wife Amy of Franklin, Massachusetts. She was the devoted grandmother of Hannah, Jared, Molly, Jacoby, and Mandi, all of whom adored her and shared a special bond with her. Susan is also survived by her brother Steve Ehrlich, her sister-in-law Fran of Tampa, FL and her nephew Brian, sister Wendy Ehrlich of AZ. She was predeceased by her brother Johnny and is lovingly remembered by her Ehrlich cousins in Massachusetts.

When Susan was eight years old, her father Robert, a savvy Harvard graduate, left his position with the Office of Price Administration in Washington, D.C., to start his own business manufacturing vinyl plastics. He moved the family to Springfield, Massachusetts, where Susan attended Classical High School. The family later settled in Longmeadow, where she graduated from Longmeadow High School.

Susan went on to study Elementary Education at Wheaton College and Wheelock College. After graduating, she began her teaching career as a kindergarten, first, and second grade teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey, while living in New York City, where she loved the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

Susan later met Stanley Gaynor, and together they welcomed their two children, Kim and Bradley. Susan dedicated her life to her children, proudly raising them and being their biggest cheerleader. Her passion for education extended beyond her family; she taught at Mary Lynch School in Springfield, Massachusetts, touching the lives of countless students for many years. In addition, Susan and her sister Wendy went onto to take over the family business her father had started, Tracies, after her father passed away.

Following her retirement from the Springfield Public Schools, Susan generously volunteered at Baystate Medical Center, where she visited children and read to them.

She also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, continuing her lifelong commitment to nurturing and supporting young lives.

Susan was an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction and loved discussing books in her book club. She enjoyed reading The Weekly News and Newsweek, and never missed watching 60 Minutes. She loved traveling with children and friends, playing tennis and bridge and could often be found cooking, walking, or swimming to stay active. Susan adored the family dog, Tyler, and walked many miles with him. She had a deep love for animals and donated generously to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Susan's greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren, with whom she shared a unique and loving bond with each of them. She was a devoted mother with a generous heart whose kindness, compassion, and humor touched everyone she met. Her nurturing spirit, unwavering support, and boundless love will forever live on in the hearts of her children, Kim and Bradley, and all who knew her.

Services will be held at Ascher Zimmerman Funeral Home in Springfield, Massachusetts. Shiva will take place at Kim's home. https://www.ascherzimmerman.com/

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America at

https://www.dementiasociety.org/.