Susan Irene Kuuhoa Nance

Susan Irene Kuuhoa Nance, 84, of Maunalua, Oahu, peacefully passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Susan was born on October 17, 1940, in Boston, Massachusetts and placed in the care of the New England Home for Little Wanderers from where she was adopted by her parents, Oscar and Ann Sternbane of Springfield, MA. Susan spent her childhood under the loving care of her parents and her beloved nanny, Meg. Happy summers were spent at their lake house in Otis.

Susan was a brilliant student and her post-high school education started at Boston University but was interrupted by her moving to San Francisco and then to Hawaii. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai?i at Manoa where she was also inducted into The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the oldest academic honor society in the United States. Her Master's Degree in American Studies was earned in just one year from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, followed by her Doctorate work at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Returning to Hawaii, she accepted a teaching position at the Academy of the Pacific, a private, nonsectarian co-educational high school in Honolulu. She taught at AOP from 2000 to retirement in 2012. Known to many friends and colleagues as Sue, in Hawai'i she was Aunty Susie to her extended ?ohana, and at AOP she was "Mizzz Nance" to her many adoring students.

In 2013 Sue commenced a new career with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UH Manoa, launching her wildly popular film classes. Often there were as many as 50 kupuna learning and sharing insight into the movies that she would feature. After-movie discussions were lively, intelligent, and fun.

Susie's kindness, warmth, intellect and generosity will be missed. She is survived by her Hollinger-McGuire, Fouts, and Roberts ohana and her many loving friends and students. A private service will be held prior to scattering of ashes at Kaimana Beach.