Susan Bridget (Arko) Saraidaridis

Susan Bridget Saraidaridis (Arko), age 70, passed away on December 14, 2021. Born on September 21, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio to Robert and Natalie (Anielski) Arko, Susan joined a large extended family with dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was raised in Garfield Heights, OH, close to what is now the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and attended the nearby Saint Monica’s Catholic School during her childhood.

Susan earned her B.A. in English and Journalism from Ohio University in 1973, an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Case Western Reserve University in 1978, and a Graduate degree in Management from Harvard University in 2001. Susan also had a long and rewarding career. She first managed libraries at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland (5 years) and Hewlett-Packard Company (24 years). As reference and research technologies advanced, Susan transitioned to building databases and taxonomies at Harvard Business School Publishing (4 years) and Fidelity Investments (12 years). She felt lucky to have worked at such exceptional organizations and with many talented co-workers.

A lifelong learner, Susan enjoyed studying everything from Marie Antionette to the history of mathematics, but was particularly passionate about British and American literature. She was an ardent devotee of Joyce, Hemingway, and Wharton - although her guilty pleasure was reading Christie and Sayers mysteries. A longtime resident of Reading, MA, Susan also enjoyed seeing the world and traveled to many places with family, friends, and work colleagues. Susan retired in 2016, giving her more time to paint, cook, and see her grandchildren.

Susan is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years, Charalampos “Harry” Saraidaridis, whom she met at the Lakeside cafeteria of Case Western Reserve University while both were in graduate school. Susan is also survived by her three children Julia Saraidaridis (and her husband Minal Caron) of Waban, MA, Jeanette Saraidaridis Lovett (and her husband Matthew Lovett) of Exeter, NH, and James Saraidaridis of Hartford, CT; three grandchildren Benjamin Lovett, Theodore Lovett, and Phoebe Caron; sister Leesa Akins and her husband Rob of Arlington Heights, IL; brother Clifford Arko and his wife Janet of Chardon, OH; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial gathering will be for immediate family only. Interment will be at a future date in the spring of 2022 at the Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield, MA. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the “Caring For A Cure” fund give online at https://because.massgeneral.org/campaign/caring-for-a-cure/c112468  or the “Be the Match” organization give online at  https://bethematch.org/

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