by Suzanne Kirkpatrick

I would like to introduce the women of Bennington AAUW to Sue Hoffmann-Ogier, a woman of strong beliefs but with a very gentle demeanor.

Sue was born and raised in New Jersey, where she attended Drew University. After that she never returned to New Jersey except to visit her mother. She attended the University of New Hampshire Graduate School, and left with two Master’s degrees, one in English and the other in Counseling. She also left with a husband, Wayne, who also graduated with a Master’s in English and used it to teach English at Bennington College. Sue’s internship in counseling while at New Hampshire set her on her career path as a counselor.

After a three-year stint in Washington, DC, Sue was offered a position as a counselor at Southern Vermont College. The couple decided that they wanted to return to New England, where Wayne had grown up (Maine), and where the many outdoor activities that Sue loved were plentiful. They settled first in Shaftsbury and then in their beautiful historic home with gorgeous views of open meadows on Pleasant Valley Road in Bennington. Sue loves Bennington and all it has to offer. After fourteen years at SVC, Sue spent the final years before her retirement in private practice. The couple has one daughter and a son-in-law who fortunately live nearby, in the Saratoga Springs area.

Sue is dedicated to women’s issues, and early during her time in Vermont, she worked with NOW trying to pass the ERA. There she met Judy Murphy, another firm believer in the amendment. The ERA didn’t pass, but Sue and Susan Swan went on to start a feminist nonfiction book club, one that Judy is part of. The book club is still together. It now has made a few changes. During COVID the club has studied shorter pieces so it can meet every week on Zoom for more social interaction. Another change is that now they have allowed some fiction pieces to be included in their selections.

As a feminist, Sue has dedicated herself to our local Project Against Violence Encounters (PAVE). She joined the board of PAVE fifteen years ago, and in July, with the retirement of the current board president, Sue will become its longest-serving member.  She has no plans to end that commitment.

Sue has been aware of AAUW for many years. Only with her recent retirement from a full-time career could she make room for our group, and I am certainly glad that she has.