Susan Hickenlooper

Susan Owen Nelson Hickenlooper passed away in Lehi, Utah, from causes incident to age on December 10, 2025. With her passing, the world lost a talented and compassionate woman whose musicianship and leadership skills blessed multiple generations within her family, church circles, and the communities in which she lived.

Sue was born August 18, 1930, in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Margaret Gaylord Nelson Philbrick and Edwin Navine Philbrick. As her birth occurred a month following her father’s premature death, Sue was adopted and reared by loving parents—Frank Howard Nelson and Gertrude Pierce Nelson—who recognized and fostered her musical talent from an early age. As her father Frank initially served in the United States Navy and then as a commander in the Coast Guard, Sue and her younger sister Karen moved periodically but stayed primarily in the California Bay Area and Washington State, growing up with an overall sense of security despite the Great Depression and the advent of World War II. In Seattle, Sue received violin training at the famous Cornish School of the Arts, performed with the Seattle Youth Symphony, and graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class at Holy Names Academy.

While earning a B.A. in Music at Brigham Young University, Sue played the violin in the symphony orchestra, participated in multiple honor societies, and served as the Vice President of Associated Women Students, receiving the “Block Y Award” in recognition of her service to the University and involvement in student activities. At BYU she met Monte Paul Hickenlooper, from San Francisco, California, and they were married August 12, 1952, by their close family friend Elder John A. Widtsoe in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sue taught music courses in the public school system in Seattle while Monte completed graduate studies in Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Washington, after which the couple settled in the San Francisco Bay Area near the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory, where he was first employed.

In Livermore, Sue focused primarily on rearing her young children—Debra Sue Hickenlooper, Cheryl Lynne Hickenlooper, and Kent Nelson Hickenlooper. The discovery that Kent had been born with a crippling blood disorder, for which there were limited treatment options in the 1960s and ’70s, caused a major shift in Sue’s life, as she took on the major responsibility of managing his medical care. Even so, she found time to organize a community-based women’s choral group, for which she arranged the music and conducted the concerts, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the American Association of University Women in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

A series of moves took the family first to Palo Alto and eventually to the East Coast—specifically, the Connecticut suburbs of New York City in the late 1960s. They settled first in Westport and eventually moved to New Canaan. In Connecticut, Sue developed many meaningful relationships through her church service and community engagement. After serving as their ward Young Women’s president, she served as stake YW president for nine years, during which she instituted a highly successful Girls’ Camp leadership program for the junior and senior girls. Her commitment to the youth of the Church also extended to teaching early morning seminary for three years. Her love for the women of the Church found expression as she served again as ward Relief Society president and then Stake RS President of the Yorktown Stake for five years. Along the way, she was also a Public Affairs Director.

Although Sue thrived on this organizational involvement, her activities never strayed far from her early musical training. Having served as Stake Music Director in two stakes, she was at one point also the Regional Music Director in the New York Region, where she prepared choirs for the New York Stake Visitors Center opening and the dedication of the Washington, D.C. Temple. She also organized and conducted the first New York Stake Messiah Sing Along held in the NY Stake Center, across from Lincoln Center. In the community, Sue was a member of the Schubert Club of Fairfield County, and her private teaching studio typically included fifteen violin students. She was also the violinist of the Laurel Trio, a professional ensemble including Elaine Jorgensen (flute) and Kate Handley (piano) that performed at events in the area.

In New Canaan, Sue’s commitment to serving others found expression in multiple avenues. She made deliveries for Meals on Wheels, coordinated blood drives for the Red Cross, and served as president of New Canaan’s Interfaith Council. Under her leadership, that ecumenical organization oversaw the construction of housing for the elderly and the developmentally disadvantaged, a project close to her heart. She also became involved with American Mothers, Incorporated—an organization dedicated to educating, supporting, and honoring mothers as they positively impact families and communities. In 1999, while serving as AMI’s national Executive Director, with an office in New York’s Waldorf Astoria, Sue received Brigham Young University’s Distinguished Service Award for community service. Over the years, Sue chaired or cochaired four national conventions for AMI, served as national president, and, in 2015, received a lifetime achievement award from that organization in recognition of her outstanding contributions. Her involvement with AMI continued after she and Monte moved to Southboro, Massachusetts, as she traveled extensively for state visits, board meetings, and national conventions.

A post-retirement move to Cedar Hills, Utah, led to a new chapter in Sue’s life. Living near her daughter Cheryl and her family, Sue and Monte became ordinance workers in the Mount Timpanogos Temple and then served a service mission at the Provo Missionary Training Center, where Sue’s organizational skills were put to good use setting up practice sessions in the Language Training Center.

Monte’s passing in 2019 prompted yet another transition in Sue’s life—this one to move in with her daughter Debra and son-in-law Madison U. Sowell in Lexington, VA. Despite the encroaching memory loss that had become apparent prior to Monte’s death, Sue continued to display a zest for life—enjoying concerts, plays, games, social events, and traveling with the Sowells, including a memorable cruise along the coast of New England. Their five years together included the period of the COVID pandemic. In early 2024 Sue was diagnosed with cancer and became in need of round-the-clock care. That summer, as the Sowells prepared to serve a mission, Sue moved into The Covington Senior Living facility in Lehi, Utah, where she was near her daughter Cheryl and several grandchildren. She enjoyed visits from friends, former students, and family, including her beloved niece Rachel Jones Ustick. The family greatly appreciates the excellent care and attention Sue received from the Covington staff, as well as from leaders of the Lehi 50th Branch.

Susan Hickenlooper is survived by her daughters Debra Hickenlooper Sowell (Madison) and Cheryl Lynne Hickenlooper Casazza; grandchildren MariLouise Nelson Sowell Harrow (Brian), Laura Elizabeth Sowell Peterson (Skyler), Kent Jacob Casazza (Paige), Teresa Rose Casazza Gandolfo (Ryan), Caroline Grace Casazza, and Stephanie Lynne Casazza Embry (Samuel); and great-grandchildren Jonathan Sowell Harrow, Cecily Ray Harrow, Florence Sue Harrow, Marley Ora Peterson, Maverick Skyler Peterson, Lucy Quinn Casazza, Belle Harper Casazza, Sophia Blake Casazza, Gianna Rose Gandolfo, Noelle Lynne Massey, Navy Lee Embry, and Daisy Anne Embry, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Monte Paul Hickenlooper, son Kent Nelson Hickenlooper, and great-granddaughter Gypsy Rose.