Susan McCurdy Yonkers, Prolific Artist, Book Lover, and Avid
Gardener, Dies at 76
Described as a "vibrant force of life," she was well-loved and
will be missed by many.
Born in Baltimore, Susan was an artist from the very beginning.
Every Saturday starting in first grade, she attended Maryland
Institute College of Art, studying painting under E. Carey
Kenny and Leonard Bahr, and participating in various art shows
all over Maryland. Continuing on as an undergraduate at MICA,
Susan really learned to "see" as an artist and to love the use of
color from people like Abbie Sangiamo, Sharon Yates, Reba
Stewart, and Sam Gilliam.
After graduating, getting married, and raising her children in
New Canaan, CT and later back in Baltimore, she was still
drawing, but mostly using her artistic talents to create gardens.
As a devoted member of numerous garden clubs, she was the
past president of the Green Thumb Garden Club and former
Board Secretary of the Guilford Garden Club in Baltimore. Her
gardens and homes were featured in several publications
including Style Magazine and Baltimore Magazine.
She was on the board of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House
and a long-time member of the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
Susan adored books and was a voracious reader. In the 1990s,
she and her husband Bill owned the Bookshop at Stevenson
Village in Stevenson, MD. The shop was chosen "Baltimore's
Best Gardening Books" by Baltimore Magazine in 1996.
Everywhere they lived, Susan and Bill planted gardens. This
interest took them on many trips to England and throughout
Europe, inspiring Susan to get back to painting; starting out with
her own garden as her subject, but soon returning to her first
love—people.
In 2011, Susan won the People's Choice award at A Celebration
of Art at Cylburn Arboretum. In 2012 she won both the Cylburn
Arboretum Association Board Award and the Graul's Award for
her paintings in A Celebration of Art at Cylburn. In the fall of
2014, Susan had two solo shows: People and Places at the
Vollmer Center, and Art Under the Spire in Baltimore at First
and Franklin. Susan has shown her work at Baltimore's Y:ART
gallery, and DISTRICT Arts in Frederick.
On July 24, 2025, Susan McCurdy Yonkers passed away due to
complications of ovarian cancer; she was 76 years-old.
The daughter of the late Robert and Doris McCurdy of
Baltimore, Susan is survived by her husband Billy, her children
Willy Yonkers and Amanda Atkins, her son-in-law Josh Atkins,
and beloved grandson Henry.
A celebration of life will be held at the Women's Club of Roland
Park, date to be determined for the fall of 2025. In lieu of
flowers, donations can be made to:
The Women's Club of Roland Park
4500 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21210