Susan Stursberg was the kind of person who could meet you once and remember all the details of your life when you bumped into her two years later.
An animal lover and a horror fiend, Stursberg made many people feel at home in Chicago, as the co-owner and primary bartender at the Gold Star Bar in Wicker Park.
A huge fan of Anthony Perkins and John Carpenter’s Halloween, Susan recently got to meet Brian Andrews, the original Tommy Doyle at the Horror Hound convention in November 2012. Despite being weak from her efforts battling pancreatic cancer, Stursberg’s powerful energy and joy lit up the convention hall and the charmed Andrews spent a lot of time with her, regaling her with stories about life on Halloween and beyond.
Susan was, also, quite the raconteur, herself, sharing a smartly decorated ghost story or two as the Huffington Post piece honoring her life attests: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/13/susan-stursberg-gold-star_n_2288413.html.
More significant than the date of her death (December 10th, 2012), though, are the memories of her face, flushed with excitement at Chicago’s annual zombie walk or filled with warmth upon welcoming another stranger into her bar (and into heart).
Here’s hoping Perkins has donned his matron’s dress and is doing his ‘mama’ voice for you, right now, and into eternity, Susan! RIP, our dear Chicago Horror friend.
Be sure to keep up with the memorials for Susan and for news on beloved Gold Star Bar at:
Big Gay Horror Fan 