Remembering Miss Sue, one of Bar Harbor's Fiercest and Kindest Mama Bears
Sue Freytag Kropff died this week
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.
BAR HARBOR—Sue Freytag Kropff spent a lifetime opening doors.
Sometimes those were doors of opportunity. Sometimes those were doors to a safe space.
Sue Freytag Kropff, formerly of Bar Harbor, always opened the door to her heart. The former business owner, teacher, and camp director died October 25 surrounded by family.
As her son Drew Kropff said, “She has impacted so many lives.”
As president of the Bar Harbor/MDI Rotary Club, Sue not only managed to lead the club through a dynamic time, but she did it with quips, kindness, and capability.
That’s how she met all the challenges life threw at her. Sue directed childcare for a while at the MDI YMCA; she was a loving mom who cheered her kids and everyone else’s; and she was a great friend and member of the YBs, the group of women who began the Carol Dyer Luminary evening to raise money to fight cancer.
"Sue was so many things; stylish, funny, friendly, and, at times, frightening. She had the ability to make you cringe and laugh in equal measure, sometimes in the same moment!” said Kate Jordan. “She was a sharp businesswoman who suffered no fools. I've seen her take on the orneriest of folk and make them a friend—and a loyal customer. Her snark and quick wit helped her balance some of her toughest times. And her kindness, warmth, and maternal instincts helped others balance some of their darkest times.”
Back in 2009 the group was honored by the YWCA at its annual meeting. They were proclaimed Women of the Year.
They were also catering the event.
According to a column by Kate Jordan in the Mount Desert Islander, “YWCA executive director Benni McMullen admits that asking the YBs to cater the event was the only way she could ensure that they would all show up together. She’s a smart one.”
The slogan that year?
“Strong alone. Fearless together.”
Fearless might not be the first word people think of when they think of Sue—it is probably kindness—but she was fearless in so many ways that involved her family, her love of others and community, her willingness to do good acts and create kindness and opportunity for others everywhere she went to grow. That might be at hotels with employees under her care, at the YMCA with the students she nurtured, at Rotary where she constantly reminded others of what the motto of “service above self” meant; or via gardening and gardening columns.
Or it might be in the care she took to make flower arrangements for weddings, funerals, birthday parties, and more.
As Drew wrote, “There are the individuals, people who needed a safe home to live in during a rough patch that she opened her doors to without question, kids who needed a mom to talk with when they didn't have one, and anyone else who might just need a smile and a good laugh.”
“She was a wonderful Young Bitch (YB) and gave her all to do what she could for our Island, volunteering and fundraising with her fellow YBs. She was a fierce mama bear to Drew and Russell and I'm so sad that she has left us so soon,” Jordan said. “Dance with the angels, sweetie!"
Sue raised money for missions, raised money for nonprofits, and constantly raised spirits with that mix of humor, heart, and toughness. A former group sales manager at the Bar Harbor Inn, former director of sales and events at the Asticou, and former catering sales manager at Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, Sue proved that her organizational and people skills were top-notch.
“Most of all, us,” Drew wrote. “She raised two men and showed us how to be kind, loving, stubborn, strong, brave, stubborn again, creative, funny, and most of all, giving. She formed who we are by being those things to those around her every day.”
Sue made a difference. Sue made ripples that mattered to hundreds of kids she took care of and to people who would never get to meet her.
As news of Sue’s passing resonated throughout social media, woman after woman, neighbor after neighbor, commented.
“Wait. What? Miss Sue. Beautiful Miss Sue? Miss Sue that cared for so many of our children? Miss Sue that always has a kind word and a smile? This is terrible,” wrote one woman.
Sue impacted hundreds of local kids as childcare director, camp director, preschool teacher and mom.
“The community of Bar Harbor where she helped build a group of amazing women who raise money for cancer research, the Rotary club where she continued the family tradition of serving as president, and an innumerable list of others who just knew she would be there to help,” are just some of the people Sue impacted, Drew said.
She was the kind of mom who’d make everyone hot cocoa after sledding or just coming in from a cold day. She was the kind of leader who listened when your heart hurt. She was the kind of friend who’d lean across the table at Galyn’s and offer some really good advice.
Sue Freytag Kropff spent her lifetime opening doors for people and the moment they crossed the threshold into her life? She embraced them.
Sue’s family is currently planning to return to Mount Desert Island this spring and have a service. We’ll update you when we have more information.
All photos Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story.
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