A death

We are sad to announce that Susanne M. Schnitzer, a fellow of AIC
and a member of the Institute of Paper Conservation in the UK, died
in an accident on April 8. Susanne was born on August 29, 1947 to
Irene and Joseph Schnitzer, two holocaust survivors who had
emigrated to the U.S. earlier that year..  She grew up in Queens,
and attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1969 with a
B.A. degree.  She studied with James Watrous, author of The Craft of
Old Master Drawings, and a Century of American Printmaking.

After graduating,  Susanne apprenticed with Carolyn Horton in New
York City and began graduate studies at Hunter where she majored in
Art History and did research on the art of Wassily Kandinsky.  She
earned a Masters in Art History at Hunter. Subsequently, Susanne
joined the conservation lab at the Guggenheim Museum, under the
direction of Orrin Riley and also began to accept private work.
Shortly thereafter she established a paper conservation studio at
her apartment in Manhattan.  Eventually Orrin Riley and Susanne
together founded Orrin Riley Fine Art, Ltd, first at 37th street and
then at 361 West 36th Street, NYC. Susanne and Orrin's clients
included many prominent dealers, collectors and museums.

Susanne specialized in German Expressionist Art, The Ashcan School,
American folk art, Contemporary Art, and Modern Masters.  In her
treatment of works of art she was  always respectful of  the wishes
of the owner.  She approached paper conservation as an art, with
patience and care, applying treatment that was always graceful and
successful.  Often a seemingly  impossible conservation challenge
would be resolved by way of innovative solutions invented over time.

A kind and generous friend to her employees, she treated every
person, from a famous artist to a messenger, with respect and a
welcoming smile. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial service to honor Susanne's life will be held on Sunday,
June 7, 2009 at 6 pm sharp at Christie's, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, New
York City.  Those attending should arrive a few minutes in advance
to allow for security checks.

Terry Marsh and Vera Jelinek


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:65
                    Distributed: Friday, May 8, 2009
                       Message Id: cdl-22-65-001
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