Susan Patricia Bourdaud'Hui

Sue Bourdaud’hui aged 72 of Washington DC, died on Wednesday October 14th 2020, 13 weeks after being diagnosed with brain cancer. She passed peacefully at Sycamore Acres assisted living facility in Derwood Maryland. She was the loving wife of Robert Bourdaud’hui with whom she shared more than 38 years of marriage and 44 years of companionship. Born in 1948 in Bristol England, she was the daughter of the late Ken Whitmore and Marian Whitmore. Her younger brother Bob remembers her from his childhood as being remarkable for how kind Sue was to him, unlike some other older siblings.

Sue graduated as a Bachelor Of Arts in Social Science through the Open University in 1978 then later with an MA from Georgetown University in Georgetown in 1989.

When Rob accepted a job with Airbus Industrie in Toulouse, France Sue embraced the opportunity and left behind her close friends in Bristol for a new adventure - she had always loved to travel since accompanying her parents on trips across Europe. Not that common a vacation destination for most people in the 1960s

She married Robert Bourdaud’hui, also from Bristol, in Toulouse France in 1982. Sue was founding partner of Langue Promotion (a language school in Toulouse) she taught english principally to french engineers from the region’s aerospace companies. She traveled extensively throughout the country during 7.5 years of residence. She loved the people, the countryside, the Pyrenees and the food culture.

Sue accompanied Rob to Washington DC in 1988 as he started a new phase in his Airbus career. Sue became a valued tour guide and coordinator with Smithsonian Travel Tours then for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Many lucky tour participants had Sue’s calm hand guiding the way across cities and towns around the world.

Sue was an enthusiastic supporter of various worthy causes from her strong support of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) in the 1970s to her years as a quiet but keen volunteer at Palisades Village and Miriam’s Kitchen.

Sue was never much interested in shopping or material goods but she appreciated a good appearance and had a definite sense of style. Luckily for all the cats and dogs that adored her that style did not worry for claws and shedding. She was a voracious reader of the New Yorker and mystery novels. A love of music particularly, American roots music, was a strong connection in the marriage. The annual Jazz Fest in New Orleans was a regular destination for many years. She had a really strong affection for the city.

Sue was taken from us too soon and will be sorely missed by her many, many friends in the US, UK and France.

A celebration of Sue’s life will be planned at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made - in lieu of flowers - to Palisades Village and Miriam’s Kitchen.