Susan Haigh

SOUTH HERO - Susan L. Haigh, 67, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2023, at the McClure Miller Respite House.  Susan was born on July 16, 1956, in Rye, NY the child of Samuel Lyon Haigh and Grace Elizabeth Haigh.  Susan graduated from Rye High School and in the late 1970’s moved to Grand Isle County in Vermont. 

Susan had several jobs as a cook in various restaurants but desired to pursue a career in the trades.  She hired on with J & L Foundations as a laborer and rose through the ranks to become a foreman.  Becoming tired of the winter layoffs Susan hired on with Omega Electric working in the warehouse stock room.  She went through the electrician apprentice program, became a licensed journeyman and eventually a master electrician overseeing many jobs as a supervisor.  Susan’s last job was supervising the electrical work on the new Air Traffic Control Tower for the FAA at the Burlington International Airport in late 1988.  Upon completion of the Control Tower the FAA offered her a job as an Environmental Technician responsible for overseeing building facilities, HVAC, emergency generator backup, airfield lighting as well as maintaining remote sites off the airport. 

Susan met her husband Dana Bromley, an air traffic controller at the Burlington International Airport.  They bought property and built a home in South Hero in 1997 and were married on July 1, 2007.  In 1999 Susan was promoted to a Supervisor in the FAA Airways Facilities Branch.  Her area was responsible for Communications, Navigational, Radar and Environmental Facility Maintenance. 

Dana retired from the FAA in November of 2010 and was followed by Susan’s retirement in January of 2011.  Some of the things that brought Susan joy was her family’s lake front home in Maplewood PA where she spent much time as a child and continued visiting with family and friends through her life.  She also loved her flower and vegetable gardens and a special love for her animals which included horses, dogs, and many cats.  Susan also volunteered at CHAMP, an equestrian facility that offers therapeutic riding lessons to individuals with physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive challenges. She did weekend outdoor horse feeding, haying, and graining and mucking outdoor sheds.  Susan spearheaded an indoor arena lighting replacement project with many other electricians and workers at cost to CHAMP with no labor cost.  She also maintained pasture electric fencing and installed new aisle way lighting and outlets and an emergency generator bypass switch.  Her true love was antique and classic wood boats.  Susan came into possession of her family’s boat which had been purchased in 1949 by her father, the Ninneyfish, that she had completely restored.  She joined the Lake Champlain chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, was elected to the board of directors.  She was subsequently elected as the Vice President of the chapter and then later was elected to the President of the club.  She planned rendezvous, workshops, club meetings, dinners, and chapter boat shows.  With the help of her amazing club members her chapter hosted the ACBS International Boat Show in Burlington VT in 2022.

Susan is survived by her husband of sixteen years, Dana Bromley, her brothers Sam and Tom Haigh, her sister Sandra Finkenberg, stepchildren Kyle and Alyssa Bromley in addition to many cousins, nephews, and nieces. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 4, 2023, 12:45pm to 4:00pm at All Souls Interfaith Gathering at 291 Old Bostwick. Farm Road, Shelburne, VT 05482.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CHAMP, Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program.