Suzanne K. Van Meter

Suzanne K. Van Meter, 73, of Poland, Ohio, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack in her home on Friday, September 29, 2017.

Suzanne was born in Youngstown on February 26, 1944 to Burton and Dorothy (Jones) Honey. A 1962 graduate of Poland Seminary High School, Suzanne participated in many activities, including band, baton twirling, and cheerleading. She received her BA, majoring in English and French, from Bowling Green State University; her MA in psychology from Case Western Reserve University; and was ABD in psychology at Kent State.

The daughter of two career public school educators, Suzanne herself first taught in the Sylvania (OH) public schools in the late 1960s and, after a divorce, continued her career teaching English and psychology at Cleveland Heights High School.

She married Don Van Meter on September 8, 1973, and resumed her teaching career at Poland Seminary High School. Initially teaching French part-time, she eventually taught English and became chair of the department. Suzanne took on many active roles in the school community, as well as maintaining a role as a sports reporter and photographer for the Vindicator and Poland Leader. Her favorite activities included advising the “Sem Staff” to produce the school newspaper, and coaching the PSHS cheerleaders for more than 20 years, winning awards for leadership and sportsmanship. She also enjoyed scorekeeping and keeping stats for varsity baseball and men’s basketball. She will also be remembered as the voice of the Poland Bulldog Marching Band.

In addition to her husband, Donald C. Van Meter, she leaves her son Christopher (Eleanor) Owen of Wilton, NH, and her daughter Caroline (Rob) Klimeczko of Holliston, MA, and four grandchildren: Burton and Helen Owen, and Kayleigh and Ryan Klimeczko.

Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday October 4 at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland; calling hours are Tuesday evening from 5-8pm at the funeral home. Visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to establish a scholarship in her memory c/o the Poland Foundation for Educational Excellence, PO Box 5217, Poland, OH 44514 indication “Van Meter Scholarship” in the memo line.