Sue wrote a novel with a friend of ours, Susan DiLallo. It was inspired by the Susans’ close relationship—sometimes too close—with their mothers, both of whom died the year they started their book. It’s a doozy of a novel. Great pace. Heartfelt. Mother-daughter relationships deserve nothing less. The novel also has a terrific title: Things I Wish I Told My Mother. It will be published in the spring of 2023. Don’t miss it.
I loved Sue’s mom, my mother-in-law, as much as I loved my own mother.
Lorraine grew up out in the sticks but she still found her way into the class of 1943 at Wisconsin–Madison. She wanted to major in economics but in those days that was frowned upon for a woman. So she had a double major—economics and nursing. She probably could have run J. P. Morgan or Barclays one day, but instead she ran the emergency room at UW Hospital. Until she had her one and only baby, Susan Lori.
Lorraine and her husband, OB, were the ultimate Badgers (they met at Wisconsin–Madison). For over fifty years, they attended almost every football game, plus at least half the basketball and hockey games.
Here’s a story that’s pure Lorraine and captures her great spirit. At ninety-eight, she won the family’s college football pool. That’s no mean feat, since the whole extended family—especially Sue’s favorite cousin (this makes no sense to me), Mark Ormson—are irrationally out-of-control football maniacs. Lorraine’s prize for winning the pool was a football signed by Wisconsin’s athletic director, Barry Alvarez. Sue wanted to take Lorraine’s picture and send it to Barry, who is a family friend. Lorraine balked, then insisted on getting her hair done first.
Then she did a perfect “Heisman pose,” holding the prize football under one arm, the other arm extended to ward off tacklers. Barry Alvarez wrote back: “Lorraine, your hair looks great. And way to tote the rock.”
Sweet Lorraine. She finally passed away close to her ninety-ninth birthday. As they used to say back in her day, What a gal.