Susan Quillan, M.N. '81

Susan Quillan, M.N. '81, passed away on June 15 at her home in Malibu, California.

Quillan was born on Dec. 29, 1950, and grew up in Alhambra, where she attended Alhambra High School. After attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, Quillan attended nursing school at the UCLA, and continued on to get her master's degree in nursing and a nurse practitioner license at UCLA as well.

After becoming a nurse and working in various hospitals, Quillan spent the majority of her career at UCLA. She worked her way up the nursing ladder, from night shift in the ICU at UCLA Medical Center to becoming the director of nursing at the Arthur Ashe Student Health Center. She touched many patients’ lives with her medical expertise, tender spirit and nurturing soul.

In retirement, Quillan hiked and traveled with the Sierra Club, volunteered at the Agoura Animal Care Center, where she met and became a supporter of Healthcare for Homeless Animals, and worked as a volunteer docent, inspiring a love of art and shaping memorable experiences for others at the Getty Villa. She created The Listening Post in Malibu, a forum that provided compassionate, nonjudgmental listening to the community as a powerful tool for both improved mental health for participants and increased empathy and communication skills for the listeners. She was an active member of Malibu United Methodist Church, singing in the choir and cooking and serving community meals for our unhoused persons.

Quillan was an artist who created beautiful handmade gifts filled with love, including socks and scarves, hats and sweaters, holiday decorations and blankets for her friends and family.

An avid and eclectic reader, Quillan helped guide a book group, introducing others to new thoughts, ideas and perspectives. She loved many genres, appreciated the beauty of language and read widely, including authors from many different countries. Her reading moved her to name one dog Martin Beck after a fictional Swedish detective and her fierce independence and strength led her to name the other after the abolitionist and women’s rights advocate Cady Stanton.

Her love of travel took Quillan across the globe to Peru, Ecuador, China, Turkey, England, France, Norway, Italy and Spain. Her love of knitting led to adventures in Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, India, Finland, Mongolia and the Shetland Islands. Her love of wildlife led her to explore the rainforests of Costa Rica and see the birds in the Galápagos Islands. She and her daughter, Zoe, took a final amazing trip to four countries in Africa, where they created indelible memories, encountering zebras and elephants, giraffes and lions.

A loving mother, sister, cousin and friend; an adventurer, knitting artist, dog lover and bird watcher, she will be missed. Her gentle spirit and beautiful essence will continue to inspire all who knew her.