Susan W. Nessen, of Concord, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on December 7, 2020. She was born on February 21, 1932 in Philadelphia, PA, the third child of Lester and Ethel Weil. After a colorful childhood in many locations that included Philadelphia, Florida and Trieste, Italy, she attended Swarthmore College where she majored in French. In 1956, she married Robert L. Nessen. They resided in Chicago, New York City, and Montclair, New Jersey in their early years. In 1964, they relocated to Concord, MA, which was Susan's home for 56 years. In Concord she raised her 3 children, was active in the League of Women Voters and the Concord Players, and played a founding role in creating the Concord-Area Jewish Group (which later grew into Kerem Shalom). Later, despite the barriers faced by women with a family, she pursued her dream of becoming an art historian, earning her Ph.D from Boston University in 1986. Her specialty was 20th century painting and sculpture, with an expertise in the Surrealists. She was on the art history faculty at Regis College for 17 years and was also an instructor at Boston College and Simmons. Her book, Yves Tanguy, Visionary Surrealist, is slated for publication in 2021. Susan was an avid gardener, art collector, and lover of pugs. She will be deeply missed by her family and community, and is survived by her husband of 65 years, Robert L. Nessen, her 3 children, Julie Davidson (and husband Charles), Betsy Nessen Merrill (and husband Steven), and Ethan Nessen (and wife Martina) as well as her 5 grandchildren, Ted Merrill, Amelia Merrill, Susan Tan, Catherine Tan, and Sarah Tan and by Daniel Thomas and Victor En Yu Tan. Susan's family will gather for a private funeral service in the Dee Funeral Home. Click play below on December 11, 2020 at 10:30 am to watch the live stream. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 (www.caredimensions.org). Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.