In commemoration of the centennial of the Armistice ending the First World War, the Ft. Bayard Historic Preservation Society will host an evening lecture on Saturday, November 3, at the Santa Clara Armory. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the lecture beginning at 7 p.m. A reception with light refreshments will follow the talk.

The lecture will be presented by Suzanne Heske, and is entitled “The Great War: Lest We Forget”.   

Suzanne Marie Heske was born to Theodore Heske Jr. and Marie Ann Williams of Harleysville, PA outside of Philadelphia and is the middle of three children. Suzanne’s service to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) began with in 1980 with the Valley Forge Chapter, Pennsylvania as a third generation DAR, and as a Junior Member. She has been blessed to have served for more than 38 years at every level of the DAR organization including attending and serving at 34 Continental Congresses. She is a passionate leader and an inspiring mentor for DAR with her years of knowledge, experience, and continued service. This is evidenced with her State Regency theme, “Mentoring: Growing by Leaps and Bounds”. Suzanne has received many accolades both professionally and personally including the 1997 State Outstanding Junior and the National Society Runner-Up. She has served as a National Vice President General, many National Vice and Divisional Chairmanships, numerous State and Chapter Officer and Chairmanships. Currently, she is the National Chairman for the American Indians Luncheon at Continental Congress and a National Vice Chairman of the Marshall Committee as well as the NM State Parliamentarian and Chairman of Commemorative Events and the Lew Wallace Chapter Treasurer.

Professionally, Suzanne is a graduate of Temple University, School of Pharmacy with degrees in Biological Chemistry and Pharmacy. Her career began as a research extern with Merck Sharpe and Dohme, and then she served as the Chief Radiopharmacist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and an Associate Professor at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. In 1991 Suzanne relocated to New Mexico to attend graduate school at the University of New Mexico and earned degrees in Radiopharmacutical Science and Health Physics. Suzanne is an accomplished Pharmacist and Board Certified Radiopharmacist and has spent several decades of her career work in the pharmaceutical industry in the areas of drug development and clinical research. She currently is the Senior Director of Quality Risk Management for Syneos Health.

Suzanne’s passion and gusto for life spans far beyond DAR, she is an avid gardener, cook and seamstress. She enjoys reading, the outdoors, traveling, pitching horseshoes, and anything crafty. She has been a resident of Bosque Farms, NM for over 27 years and recently accompanied the National Society to France for the Franco-American Alliance celebration and in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of WWI.