Obituary For Former West Caldwell Resident: Susanne Banta Harper

CALDWELLS, NJ — The following obituary comes courtesy of the Ocean County Cremation Service. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Susanne Banta Harper (88) of Barnegat, NJ and formerly West Caldwell, NJ, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Sue was born in Glen Ridge, NJ in 1937 to Dorac Bell Banta and Julia Spain Banta. Sue spent many wonderful summers during her childhood at Girl Scout Camp Eagle Island in the Adirondacks. During high school Sue took progressively more difficult ballet classes, and was on track to join a newly formed NJ ballet company. Just after graduating from Summit High School, Sue met Jerry Harper while he was in the U.S. Army. They decided to get married shortly afterwards, as he was scheduled to be posted to Thule Greenland. Luckily they ended up staying in NJ at Fort Monmouth. Then babies started popping up!

While bringing up children and working odd jobs, Sue helped Jerry get through many years of a nighttime bachelor’s degree after he left the Army. When he finished, Sue got her own degree from Seton Hall University. Sue was the head of the history department at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, NJ and later at Randolph High School where she developed their Asian and Russian Studies Programs. Being an avid scholar, Sue continued on to obtain a Masters Degree from William Paterson College. In her constant pursuit of education, Sue was an Author, Educator, Fulbright Scholar, Eagleton Teacher Associate, Dodge Foundation Scholar, a Korean Teacher Scholar and a Russian Studies Educational Ambassador.

Sue loved the outdoors, camping and canoeing, and shared that love with her family and as a girl scout leader. Her family has wonderful memories of those years. Sue had an active social life, and was a member of the Daughters of The American Revolution (DAR) and the Red Hat Busters Club. A lover of dogs, Sue kept dachshunds throughout her life. In later years, Sue and Jerry traveled the world visiting all of the habitable continents.

Jerry and Sue remained together for 70 years. Together they raised a family of three children. Sue is survived by her husband Jerry, her children, Doug Harper (wife Jil), Julia Harper (husband Paul) and Donna Sue Dowton (husband Scott), two grandchildren, Ashley Dowton and Julia Turano (husband Joe), and a great grandchild Kaydence Corbett. Sue will be sorely missed by her family and friends who knew her for her sharp wit and wry sense of humor. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to Eagle Island Camp of Saranac Lake, NY would be greatly appreciated.

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