A tribute will be held for the late Susan Steele, a longtime West Windsor resident, at West Windsor Library, on Sunday, January 31, 3 to 5 p.m.
It is a dedication and reception for Susan Steele, the branch manager of West Windsor Library and then supervising librarian for the Mercer County Library from 1975 to 2000. The Friends of the Library will unveil a statue to honor Steele made possible by donations from the Steele family and friends.
Steele was 71 when she died on August 6, 2008. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, she was raised in Chicago and lived in West Windsor for 36 years. A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Purdue University, Class of 1958, she obtained her master’s degree in library science from Rutgers University.
Family attendees at the event include her husband, Edward Steele of West Windsor; her daughters, Sally, who lives in the area, and Ann Steele from London; and her sister, Katy Sullivan from Minneapolis.
The Steele family moved to West Windsor in 1972 when Ed, a chemical engineer, was transferred to run a plant in Cranbury. Their daughters were raised in West Windsor.
“Sue was very partial to children learning to read in the library,” says Ed Steele. “This particular statue is of a young girl with a ponytial reading a book. Although there was also a statue of a boy, my daughters insisted that it be a girl.”
Ed Steele discovered “Bookworm II,” a two-foot hollow bronze statue featuring a young girl reading a book, on the Internet. It will be permanently mounted on one of the bookcases in the children’s area and a plaque will be mounted next to it.
The statue was created by Gary Lee Price, who is known for his life-size bronze sculptures. “My passion for art and my belief that art empowers and lifts the human spirit has only grown stronger throughout my life,” says Price, a resident of Utah. “I have been blessed with many generous and selfless mentors, and my dream is to pass on those gifts to others.”
“We always accept donations in people’s memories and we try to purchase items for the library that are appropriate for that person,” says Irene Hoyt, president of the Friends of the Library. “We received donations in memory of Susan Steele and the family matched the amount to purchase the statue.”
Tribute to Susan Steele, West Windsor Library, 333 North Post Road. Sunday, January 31, 3 to 5 p.m. 609-987-9644.
