Susan B. Downey, formerly of Jackson, died February 11, 2025 in Yucaipa, Ca., after an extended illness, at the age of 87.
Susan was valedictorian of the first class to graduate from Murrah High School in 1957, following which she attended Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, obtained a Ph.D. from Yale, did postdoctoral work at the American Academy at Rome and spent the rest of her career as a professor in the Art Department at UCLA, where she taught history of art and archaeology courses. She specialized in the archaeology of the Middle East and published several books and treatises dealing with that subject. Susan spoke fluent Italian and French and could translate and write classic Greek, German and a modicum of Russian.
She is survived by her brother John (Zeke) Downey of Jackson, her niece Katherine Mondanaro of Georgetown, Maine, her nephew Richard Downey of Annapolis, Maryland, and several grand nieces and grand nephews. A private service will be held at a later date in California.
