IN MEMORIAM WITH LOVE
Suzanne Fiol, May 9, 1960 – October 5, 2009
Dear friends,
It is with great heartbreak and sorrow that ISSUE Project Room announces the passing of our founder, artistic director, and driving force, Suzanne Fiol. Born on May 9, 1960, Suzanne died at 1:05 pm on Monday, October 5, 2009, after fighting a courageous and inspiring battle against cancer. Suzanne passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Our hearts go out to her daughter Sarah, her sister Nancy, and her parents Lawrence and Arlene Perlstein and her partner Anthony Coleman.
Anyone who has met Suzanne knows that she devoted her life to creating and sustaining a space where artists — acclaimed and emerging, local and international — could develop and perform new, challenging, and exciting works. Regardless of the different venues we’ve inhabited since our inception in 2003, ISSUE has always been Suzanne’s labor of love, a space that housed and reflected her restless intellect, fiery spirit, and great heart. She would often jokingly refer to herself as “Mama Issue,” a fitting moniker considering the unconditional love she unabashedly showed her friends, family, artists and the steadily growing audiences that have been coming to ISSUE over the years.
We are grief-stricken by Suzanne’s passing, yet inspired by her vision and strength, and will devote ourselves to fulfilling her vision with the strength we draw from our memories of her. Programming will continue this week in honor of Suzanne, and we welcome you all to come to ISSUE and share your memories.
A memorial is currently being planned.
Please stay tuned for information on its time, date and location.
(photos by Joe Holmes)
James Herring
RESPECT to you always Susan. You were, and still are, a bright spirit of life that surrounded us all. Art is what you give to others, and you gave us your all. I will always be inspired by you. Thank You for sharing your life.
Oct 06, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
BROOKLYN (the borough)
(excerpt) … of condolence can be left at the Issue Project Room website, where information about an upcoming memorial can be …
Oct 06, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
Philippa Thompson
Few people have made such a difference to the art world as you, Suzanne. It is a rare breed who who can give and give and give like you have. And always smiling.
You are loved.
Oct 06, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
Suzanne Quigley
So saddened to hear this.
We first met at the old place beside the Gowanus. Suzanne always remembered a face and a name and had a rare gift of making even a new acquaintance feel like an old friend. She was a keen business woman and followed every lead that might generate support for Issue Project. It was our pleasure to watch it bloom into what it is today. Her dedication was an inspiration.
The last time I saw her, was July 29. She wasn’t feeling 100%, but we had a nice long chat on a bench at the end of the evening. We spoke of our daughters, her sassy new hairstyle, the new space, the old space, the plans for the future.
Thank you Suzanne. We, your friends, grieve our loss.
Oct 06, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
Jon Nicholson (EXCEPTER)
You look like my mother in these pictures. I told you of her and her struggle, the last time I spoke to you. I am truely sad, not only for those who were close to you, but for the greater global music scene and all those that have passed through the doors of Issue Project Room.
Oct 06, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Paul Steven Ray
When I heard about Suzanne’s passing earlier, I was silenced and saddened and unable to think. A little later, I had this memory of her. I met Suzanne at the original space just after she had secured the new Brooklyn spot which she proudly showed on her camera. When we met at the Silo, I showed up with my proposal for some project, excited about performing in what would be a new important venue in Brooklyn. After five minutes on the music, we spent the next hour hanging and talking about the really important stuff. Namely, raising daughters, paying close attention to teens growing up, and the responsibility of the NYCDOE to educate the children of our community. This was a woman to be reckoned with. She will be missed. R.I.P.
Paul Steven Ray
Oct 06, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
Andrea Reynosa
Suzanne darling,
I am playing Natalie Merchant’s “Ophelia” in memoriam of your passage which I would have never guessed playing but was some spontaneous choice. Natalie’s power of will seems to overpower the Hamlet version of reference….I am speaking to you as you travel to the other world and so glad you met the kids and we could talk about Smack Mellon silliness in the formative years. You kicked my shins in the right direction and hopefully I did the same for your project. You are so not Ophelia but the love and power in Natalie’s songs and voice remind me of your spirit and mission….eternal love, andrea
Oct 06, 2009 @ 8:07 pm
Jeff Douglas
This is incredibly sad news.
I didn’t know Suzanne, but I attended many performances at Issue Project Room (at various locations). Her devotion to artists and their audience was obvious.
She will be sorely missed.
Oct 06, 2009 @ 11:37 pm
ray
thank you for your enthusiasm, you helped keep the spirit of music alive in a city where it is near dead or threatened with extinction. i hope that the soul of the project will continue on now that you are no longer with us.
Oct 07, 2009 @ 7:21 am
Cornelius Dufallo
Suzanne, you did so much for us all. You provided a haven, a cultural oasis. You gave us inspiration to explore, endeavor, and grow. Your generosity, idealism, humor, depth, and keen intelligence will be sorely missed. Indeed, New York will never be the same without you. You live on in our hearts and in our music, poetry, and art. Thank, you. We can never thank you enough.
Oct 07, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Paul Goebert
You were a tremendous inspiration, Suzanne. You lived your dream and showed us that even seemingly unreachable goals can be achieved with perseverance, and love. Your spirit lives on, in IPR and the many friendships you managed to build on your journey!
Oct 07, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Paul
So very sad. Thank you for your efforts to make Brooklyn the place to be for musicians. I’ll never forget it was you who made so much of this possible when I’m sitting at ISSUE for a show.
Oct 07, 2009 @ 10:26 am
Sook Kyung Yi
Sweet Suzanne-
I made a call to one of my Tulku Rinpoches (master incarnated lamas), and he and another Rinpoche gave a prayer for you today. This is to guide you in the proper direction in the bardo (in-between state) and to help you have a lucid journey. You are so blessed! Be blissful in light!
Om Mani Padme Hum!
Tashi delek, light-body!
With love and compassion,
SKY
Oct 07, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
RIP Suzanne Fiol | Avant Music News
[...] news on the passing of the founder of the ISSUE Project Room: It is with great heartbreak and sorrow that ISSUE Project Room announces the passing of our [...]
Oct 07, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
itsuki
I always had a great time at issue.
Thank you so much Suzanne, I really appreciate and respect what you done for us.
Rest in peace.
Oct 08, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
christina read
I never officially met you, but I loved what you were doing and your death speeds me to attend to that.
Great respect to you ,
Christina ham read
Oct 09, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
Suzanne Langille
One’s true age is determined by how much energy one has left for life. By that measure, Suzanne Fiol will live forever.
Oct 09, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
elizabeth castagna
i will never forget the sound of your voice.
the clarity of your vision
thank you for your inspiration and for sharing all of who you are with the world
i will miss you
Oct 09, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Meredith Drum
Thank you Suzanne for giving me courage. You will always be a champion. Always. Thank you IPR.
Oct 10, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
ppc
Suzanne was so immediately warm and vivid — an art force and a real human. So glad to have met her, so sorry for us that she’s moved on.
Oct 16, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Duane Pitre
miss
Oct 24, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
M. Morgan
First time I met Suzanne, she took me by pleasant surprise with her charm, her warm welcome and her kind words of encouragement. She will always remain as an enormous inspiration. Thank you Suzanne for your passion and your enthusiasm, you truly were a gem in world of experimental music and art.
Oct 25, 2009 @ 10:38 am
Winsome Brown
Oh Suzanne, what a kind and open and big-souled woman you are! How enthusiastic and trusting and supportive of artists. How big a presence in our lives, how important to our work, how gracious in your interactions. Thank you for everything. I had hoped to deepen our friendship — we were fairly new to each other — but now you will deepen in my memory. You will not be forgotten. Bless you.
Oct 27, 2009 @ 10:42 am
Bradley Jones
I learned of Suzanne’s passing while I was abroad and my heart just sank. The last time I saw her was at a concert in Central Park and she was just as sweet and positive as I’ve always known her to be.
The first Issue Project Room location on East 6th st. was not even a half a block away from my apartment. I would often see Suzanne walking to or from the office and we would always stop and hug each other and talk a little bit.
She booked my quartet to play at Issue which was one of the first
Jazz groups to somewhat “christen” the venue.
I will miss her dearly.
Brad Jones
Nov 03, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Lee Braem
I first learned of Suzanne’s passing by reading the obit in the NYT – what a shock. I hadn’t talked to her in a while and she never told me what has happening with her health.
I first met her when visiting NY in 91 or 92 and stopping by some of the galleries in SOHO that catered to photographs. She was working for Cuzzi Phifer (sp?) gallery at the time. We’ve been friends ever since. I even have some of her very large paint-on-cibachrome self-portraints in my house in NJ.
She was a lively and gifted spirit. She will truly be missed.
Nov 05, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
Paul Rosin and Pasha Lura Rosin
I’m so impressed by the outpouring of love for you Suzanne, all the genuine emotion … the impassioned mathematics … so many of your friends, still seeking to put two and two together. I want to thank you for all the advice and concern you’ve given me since I’ve become a single dad. We first met in the early 80’s at The School of The Art Institute in Chicago, then you where still Suzanne Perlstein … then we lost contact for perhaps 25+ years. And, after all those years traveling down all those roads, you re-engaged when I was in desperate need. I want to thank you again … so I’m closing my eyes and blowing you a kiss though space and time … xoxox … paul
Nov 06, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
susan knightly
Suzanne was a neighbor in the Hood, a mother to share stories of our Sarah’s, the joy of our growing daughters, a sister of art, a lover of music. She will be missed but she infused us all with a bit of her passion and her spirit. Condolences to Sarah, Tony, her sister and parents. – susan knightly
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She invited me to open the Children’s Festival at Issues with a Bach Partita when I was 11, a very hip lady, a very magical space she created for us all. Thank you Suzanne, you will be missed. – Sarah Hadley Yakir
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Ah Suzanne such a wonderful presence on the block, always a smile, always energy for other’s ideas, always making introductions, always lovely. Carry on.- Leonard Yakir
Nov 10, 2009 @ 9:40 am
Jørgen Teller
what a big loss. i met Susan in 2005 briefly talking about exchanges btwn CPN and NYC. and now just wanted to check up on Issue Projects actions. oh i am so sorry to learn thes bad news. HIIGH SPIIRIITS FOR SUSAN.
Jørgen
Dec 02, 2009 @ 12:37 pm