Sue Ransohoff Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Sue Ransohoff was born Sara Westheimer on December 22, 1919 in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Smith College. Her first husband, Michael Jacobs of Montreal, Canada, died in WWII. Following his death, she enlisted in the RCAF and served at Gander AFB. Following the war while on a visit with relatives in Cincinnati she renewed her acquaintance with Jerry Ransohoff. They were married in November 1945. Sue began volunteering for Planned Parenthood in 1946, and in 2006 both she and Jerry Ransohoff were awarded a Diamond Jubilee Award for their 120 years of combined service to Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She got her master’s in social work from Ohio State. During her career as a social worker she worked for the Welfare Department in adoptions, Cancer Family Services and at the Hearing Speech and Deaf Center. Sue wrote numerous articles for the Cincinnati Enquirer primarily focused on social activism and was published more than once in the New York Times. Later in life she conducted personal and family interviews as an oral historian. Into her 99th year she still wrote book reviews for The Israelite. Sue was an active member on many boards, including Wise Temple, where among other activities she published Wise Words, a history of members over the age of 80. The Mayor of Cincinnati named December 21, 2018 Sue Ransohoff Day. Sue loved Broadway and took her kids and especially her grandkids to NYC on a regular basis to see plays. She loved reading, playing, and later watching, tennis. She had an ongoing weekly bridge game that spanned over 50 years. Her favorite activity, though, was connecting with friends and family and she was a stellar conversationalist. Sue Ransohoff was active and in good spirits until a few days before her death. She died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends in the early morning of March 20, 2020. Sue is survived by her children, Richard (Margaret), Jon (Mary z’l), Kathy (Charles) and Betsy (Bill), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren as well as many loving friends and family. Memorial contributions can be made to Planned Parenthood of Cincinnati, Isaac M. Wise Temple or Hearing Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati.

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Sue Ransohoff

December 22, 1919 - March 20, 2020