Institue for Learning In Retirement

Meet the instructor – Susan Kravitz

Ken Marich

The ILR is proud to have Susan Kravitz as an instructor in the ILR education program. Her unique background in health and music has helped her make a success in her professional career and as an ILR instructor. Susan was born on Long Island, New York where she grew up in a family of three children. After high school she went to Cornell University where she earned a B.S. degree (1970) in Psychology, Sociology and Human Development. Continuing her education she earned a Master’s degree in Nursing and Wellness from Adelphi University (1975) in Garden City, New York. After graduation she took a job at South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, New York where she worked for 30 years. Susan is also a self-taught musician and sings and plays guitar and piano. As a behavioral health nurse she discovered how to use her musical ability as therapy with her patients and as a morale booster with the hospital staff.

Susan met her husband, Allan, on a blind date in 1981 and the rest is history. Susan and Allan retired to SaddleBrooke in 2009. Now being retired, Susan has time to immerse herself in the study of musicology, a discipline that explores the cultural, historical, psychological and sociological context of music. It was natural for her to combine aspects of her professional background with her musical passion to connect with people and enhance her new life as a musicologist. Her style of music encompasses folk, blues and popular music. In addition to teaching in the ILR, she has performed for various fundraising and educational events in SaddleBrooke. Among them: Sisters in SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Softball League, Institute for Judaic Studies, the Spanish Club and the SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue League. Susan also works part-time as a music specialist in the Anshei Israel pre-school in Tucson. She cherishes the opportunity to work with very young children and give them an early exposure to the love of singing and music. Susan is also a co-founder and co-instructor of a new group called SaddleBrooke Improv Comedy Club, starting in October. And this is retirement for Susan in SaddleBrooke!

Her talents are easily appreciated in the quality of the ILR courses she has taught. Her first course was American History through Folk Music and the Blues. This was followed by The History of Love Songs and the Music of the Sixties. Her courses have been a big success and she will be teaching Music of the Sixties, Part II in the winter/spring term. The ILR is pleased to have Susan Kravitz as an Instructor in our program and look forward to more musicology. For more information about the ILR visit sbilr.org.