Sue Mallett, 89; Active Volunteer and Mother

Sue Mallett, a Pacific Palisades resident from 1949 until 2008, passed away peacefully September 16 in Ventura.

Sue and her husband John moved to Pacific Palisades in 1949 when he began working for the Rand Corporation. They chose a Cape Cod-style home on Almar Avenue and remained there until Sue needed to be closer to her daughters in Ventura.

Sue was an active member of the Palisades community. When Marquez School opened, she became active on the PTA while her children attended school. She became a Girl Scout troop leader for both her daughters. Sue was a “second mom” to local Sea Scouts while they built a 16-ft. boat in her backyard, under John Mallett’s supervision.

St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop benefited from Sue’s work there for over 30 years. She advised many young people on careers and life at Aware Advisory Council of Santa Monica. She also volunteered as a docent for over 10 years at the Museum of Science and Industry, and could be found working on election day at Palisades High.

One could say she was a woman who didn’t have to work, but Sue Mallett was never without things to do. She took her jobs of wife, parent and household manager seriously. She also helped oversee the building of Dreamer, the catamaran constructed on the once-vacant lot near the bluffs at the end of Almar. Although her husband John passed away in 2002, the group-owned catamaran still sails from Marina Del Rey.

Susannah, as she is known in the New York community of Essex on Lake Champlain, was born October 26, 1923 at “Hickory Hill.” Her parents ran a dairy farm and lived in the stately federal-style home. Built in 1820 by her great-grandfather, Henry Ross, for his wife and eventually eight children, the home is one of very few to remain in the original family. Hickory Hill is maintained as an historic landmark as well as a summer residence for family.

When she and her brother were old enough to attend school, Susannah’s family moved to Garden City, Long Island. Her parents devoted as much time as possible to the home in Essex, often leaving the day school ended in June and returning as late as possible for the fall term. Susannah attended Hannah Moore Academy in Maryland and entered Smith College at age 16. She met John Mallett during World War II and they were married in April 1945.

While the Mallett family spent many weekends sailing to Catalina, Sue always made sure the family enjoyed many summer visits to Essex, New York. She will be buried there beside her husband and near her parents.

Sue is survived by her sister, Tilly Close (husband Dick) of Lincoln, Massachusetts; her children: George Mallett (wife Stefania) of Weston, Massachusetts, Peggy Harris of Port Hueneme, and Katie Krier (husband Paul) of Santa Barbara; grandchildren Ian Mallett, Diana Mallett, Jennifer Harris, Megan Pero (husband Joel), Caitlin Harris, Duncan Krier and Kelly Krier; and great-grandchildren Louisa and Lauren Pero.

Anyone wishing to contact the family can email pmhdesign@gmail.com or katiekrier52@gmail.com.