Susan Keelty Little ’75

Susan Keelty Little, Shelburne, VT, died June 21, 2023, of emphysema and lung cancer. Among the first women to graduate from Saint Michael’s College, she also was a third-generation teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) at the college, serving as an adjunct ESL professor at the College for 20 years.

She attended Shelburne Nursery School and Shelburne Community School and graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 1971. She was active in the Shelburne Girl Scouts, loved skiing and camping in the Green Mountains, and was an avid horsewoman, starting with the Charlotte Pony Club. She loved summer stays with her family at their Starr Farm Beach camp. She could knit, crochet and needlepoint to beat the band.

In 1978 she completed a master’s degree at the University of Vermont in cognitive studies. Having both a mother and a grandmother who taught English as a second language at Saint Michael’s, she found herself doing the same as an adjunct professor for 20 years. She excelled at captivating students from around the world, developing innovative teaching materials, and designing and running summer programs bringing thousands of foreign students to the College.

She married Tom Little on December 30, 1977, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. She supported him through the remainder of his law school studies while completing her master’s degree. Later, she was the rock that anchored the family while Tom served in the Vermont House and never flinched during the storm and fury of the 2000 civil union session. She then selflessly gave up much to devote herself to caring for son Thomas during his powerful illnesses.

She chaired the Shelburne Nursery School board, served on the boards of the Ethan Allen Homestead and the Altrusa women’s service club, and was instrumental in statewide promotion of the adoption of Vermont’s seat belt law. She was active in her children’s activities, including converting the home property into a small horse farm. She also was a volunteer at the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne’s Pierson Library and co-chaired the historical presentations committee for Shelburne’s 225th birthday celebration in 1994 and was a member of the Shelburne School District math project curriculum review and evaluation committee in 1993.

Susan was predeceased by her son. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Arthur Little, two daughters, two brothers and extended family.