Suzanne Sirota Waller

Suzanne Lynn Sirota Waller, beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, activist, and community leader, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, at Gilchrist Hospice of Howard County, surrounded by her children and siblings. She was 85.

Born on November 4, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, Suzanne grew up on Long Island - first in Long Beach and then in Merrick - where she developed a lifelong love of community and civic engagement. She attended Wellington C. Mepham High School, where she participated in athletics, music (violin and clarinet), the drama club, and was a baton-twirling majorette in the school’s marching band.

At the age of 16, she attended Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, where she double majored in English and psychology and was president of her class, furthering the education that shaped her lifelong commitment to service.

She also had the distinction of serving on the first female cheerleading squad for Army Football at the United States Military Academy at West Point - introduced to the crowd as a “Secret Weapon” before being unveiled at the historic Army-Navy Game.

Suzanne began her career as an English teacher in Baltimore, sharing her love of literature and language with students. After teaching, and while raising her young children, she and her then-husband, Bob, along with a few friends, opened an art gallery in Newark, Delaware, supporting and showcasing local artists. After moving to Columbia, she attended the University of Baltimore School of Law, broadening her skills and knowledge, and went on to build a successful career as a management consultant, helping organizations navigate complex challenges.

As pioneers of the progressive, planned community of Columbia, Maryland, Sue and Bob were among its earliest residents. Together with other early Jewish residents, they helped found the Columbia Jewish Congregation, where Suzanne served on the Board of Directors and many committees, helping to create a welcoming Jewish community that has flourished for decades. She continued to participate in various roles with the congregation over the years, remaining an active presence in its growth and life.

Deeply committed to civic life, Suzanne served on the Town Center Village Board and as the Town Center Representative to the Columbia Council – the Board of Directors for the Columbia Association. Fluent in French, she was an early and active participant in the Columbia Association’s Sister-City program with Cergy-Pontoise, France, fostering international friendship and cultural exchange. She immensely enjoyed several trips to France with exchange students over the years and loved hosting the visiting student groups from Cergy-Pontoise when they came to Columbia.

Suzanne also had a lifelong passion for the arts and continued to share it throughout her life. She was an early organizer of the Columbia International Music Festival and helped organize juried art shows for the Columbia Association’s Art Center, supporting and celebrating the work of local artists. Later in life, she delighted in introducing visitors to the collections of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore as a docent.

She was a tireless advocate on issues that mattered to her and her community, advocating for gun control, women’s rights, drug-abuse prevention, protecting and beautifying Columbia’s open spaces, and many other causes that strengthened the community she loved. She particularly enjoyed working on local, national, and international issues alongside Rabbi Martin Segal.

Yet the role she enjoyed most was being a mother, grandmother, and aunt. Her greatest love was her children and her family.

Suzanne had a unique joy for life, family, friends, and community. She cherished learning and intellectual debate and seemed to be involved in everything. Her boundless energy was rarely surpassed, and she carried an enduring will to find and spread joy—even in her most difficult moments.

Suzanne was the beloved daughter of the late Albert Sirota and Adeline (Warratt) Sirota. She is survived by her three children:

· Andrew Waller and his wife Anne (McCauley) Waller of Grasonville, MD, and their sons Garrett and Bryce Waller.
· Pamela (Waller) Arlotta and her husband John Arlotta of Garden City, NY, and their children Jack, Katherine, and Ryan Arlotta.
· Elliott Waller and his wife Stefanie (Longo) Waller of Upper Saddle River, NJ, and their daughters Ava and Cameron Waller.

She is also survived by her cherished siblings Gary Sirota of Massapequa Park, NY (predeceased by his wife, Chris Sirota), and Ellen (Sirota) Krieger and her husband, Richard Krieger, of Baltimore, MD. She was blessed with, and loved dearly many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at The Historic Oakland Manor 5430 Vantage Point Road Columbia, MD 21044. Immediately following the service, interment will take place at The Columbia Memorial Park, 12005 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029.

All are invited to join the family for a luncheon reception immediately following the interment back at the Historic Oakland Manor. The family will also be receiving guests on Saturday, September 20th from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Watermark Place Condominium’s Clubroom (ground floor), 10001 Windstream Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21044.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Columbia Jewish Congregation General Fund (https://columbiajewishcongregation.shulcloud.com/form/donations) in Suzanne’s memory.