Michelle Simpson

On Monday, March 4, 2024, accompanied by birdsong, rising along sunbeams, lifted by the loving embraces of her family and friends, the joyous spirit of Michelle Simpson returned to the purest love and light that gifted her to this world sixty-one years ago.

Michelle loved her life and all those who peopled it fiercely and fully: her precious daughter, Retta Simpson; her devoted wife, Sue Subocz; her adoring parents, Mary Lou and Jack Simpson; and all her loving family: aunts Patricia (Milo) Windrick and Linda (William) Sciaretti; uncle Stanley (Kathy) Duncan; cousins Derek Windrick, Crystal Sciaretti, April (Adam) Anderson and their children Ariana, Ashlyn, Alec, and Ainsley, and Scott (Mindy) Duncan and Kinley; Sue’s daughters Debbie (Matt) Davis, Jenny (Josh) McKinny, and Emily Subocz; and many other relatives in her extended family. Michelle created and loved family in every age and place she lived, formerly in Maryland with Mim Caris in Baltimore, and Thom Lieb in Towson. Michelle cultivated a wild garden of beloved and lucky friends and colleagues, as well as legions of grateful students. Among those who will miss Michelle so dearly are her pets Daisy, Fluffy, and Willow.

Michelle was dedicated to her vocation as a teacher and served as a Professor of Theatre and Communications for thirty-four years at the College of Southern Maryland. Among her many accomplishments there was creating CSM’s first group of online courses and service as the founding chair of the Faculty Innovation Team.

Michelle enriched our lives with her musical laughter, brilliant smile, and a dazzling array of talents for making each day, every milestone, and her family’s home simply beautiful. Michelle’s long and graceful fingers were almost always in motion: animating a funny story, knitting something colorful and cozy, turning a page, selecting a thoughtful gift, stitching a Halloween costume, grading an assignment, wiping away a tear, restoring a cottage, conducting a lecture, extending into Warrior, baking scones, stringing Christmas lights, and sharing constellations of tender touches with her loved ones.

The poet Mary Oliver wrote:

To live in this world 

you must be able

to do three things:

to love what is mortal;

to hold it

against your bones knowing

your own life depends on it;

and, when the time comes to let it go,

to let it go.

Michelle intentionally practiced those three things with her whole being. The letting go we all will face one day came far too soon, far too quickly for Michelle. May we each meet that time with Michelle’s same courage, grace, and love. 

Friends will be received at Wolfe Memorial, LLC, Forest Hills Chapel, 3600 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh PA 15221, on Friday, March 8, from 1:00 to 3:00pm. Please wear anything comfortable that makes you happy--spring colors are encouraged. To join the visitation remotely via Zoom, use this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84265699141?pwd=wKfMYDSDkRCNfhGwY8Dpved1Xxpq0G.1

Meeting ID: 842 6569 9141
Passcode: 820344

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.