Susan Zollman passed away on October 15, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer. She left us peacefully, surrounded by her family. A wife, mother, scientist, and lover of nature, she had a big impact on many lives. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Gil Privé, children Danny (26) & Claire (22), as well as many friends.

She was born in Montréal to Eda (née Hochberg) and Emil Zollman, Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Canada. She lived her younger years in Chomedey, Québec and had fond memories of attending camp in the summer and skiing in the winter. It was during this time she met Debbie, who remained her best friend throughout her life.

Susan moved to Los Angeles with her family as a teenager, where she pursued higher education, eventually earning her PhD in Molecular Biology from UCLA. Here, she made many lasting friendships and met and married Gil, a fellow Canadian. The two of them spent much time hiking, camping, and sailing, taking full advantage of the natural beauty around them. Even after moving to Toronto and starting a family, she remained deeply connected to California.

With her analytical mind and love of research, Susan devoted herself wholly to whatever she was working on. Her passion and dedication were felt in everything she did. She cared deeply about the environment; in addition to all her time spent outdoors, she donated generously to a number of causes. She had recently taken a shine to monarch butterflies, which she raised and released each summer.

A fantastic cook, she loved experimenting with new flavours and recipes. Even as her illness made it difficult to speak, she did her best to convey to her children various little cooking hacks she had picked up over the years. She spent countless hours showing her love in a million little ways, and the legacy of her care and love will be carried forward by her family and loved ones.

Many thanks to the incredible staff at Sunnybrook Hospital who assisted with her care. They were kind, helpful, and generous with their time. Susan would smile whenever any of her doctors entered the room.

A celebration of life will be held at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre, 375 Mount Pleasant Road, on Sunday November 2nd, from 12-2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honour to the Sunnybrook Foundation, Wildlife Preservation Canada, or National Park Rescue (Africa) would be greatly appreciated.