Kathy Sucher Memorial Service
Saturday, September 17, 2022
12:30 – 4 pm
Vin Santo Restaurant
1346 Lincoln Avenue
San Jose, California
PLEASE RSVP if attending: cocofood@att.net or Peter Cocotas (408)316-2414
In lieu of flowers or other gifts, those who wish may remember Kathy by a donation to the Dietetics Internship Scholarship Fund she founded at San Jose State University.
Go to www.https://giving.sjsu.edu. Select “Give now”. Select amount, then select “choose a giving opportunity”. In search engine box, type and select “Dietetic Internship Scholarship Fund”. Select “continue”, then fill out “My Information”.
Dr. Kathryn Sucher, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging at San Jose State University, passed away on August 21, 2022. She was a Professor of Nutrition at SJSU from 1983-2013 and served as the Dietetic Internship Director from 1989-2013. A Registered Dietitian in addition to being an educator, she received several awards and honors throughout her career. Before arriving at San Jose State University, Kathy Sucher received her Sc.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Boston University Medical Center in 1981.
Her research activities were mainly related to culture and how they affect our food habits. She recognized the fact that the population today is extremely diverse and their food habits reflect that diversity. She assisted several student research projects on the topics of multicultural/multiethnic enhancement ranging from “Dietary Habits of Asian Americans” to “Prevention of Malnutrition among the Elderly”. She authored several articles on topics such as “Diet Counseling in a Multicultural Society”, “Nutrition isn’t Color Blind” and “Diabetes and Diversity”. She also authored books such as “Understanding Medical Nutrition”, “Food and Culture”, “Cultural Foods: Traditions and Trends”, “Ethnic and Regional Food Practices” and “International Quantity Recipes”. In addition to research and writing, she used her time presenting to universities, professional organizations such as Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, California Dept. of Education, California Nutrition Council on topics related to diets, diseases and cultural competency.
Kathy Sucher was a mentor to faculty, staff, and students alike and leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. One of her biggest accomplishments was the creation and set-up of the College of Health and Human Sciences Student Success Center (then CASA Student Success Center) where she served as the director until her retirement in 2013. She firmly supported and believed in student success and started a $2000 Scholarship for students aspiring to be registered dietitians upon her retirement. Ten students have received the scholarship in the last 10 years since Kathy Sucher’s retirement. Kathy Sucher actively served on several committees at SJSU and volunteered for the dietetics professional groups at the local, state and national level. She served as the President of the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for 2015-2016.
An avid traveler and hiker, Kathy traveled extensively in Europe and Asia until recently and also loved backpacking in the Sierras every year. She is survived by her husband Peter and son Alex.
We are deeply saddened at her passing away and our thoughts and prayers remain with her family.
Ashwini Wagle, Ed.D., MS.,RD
Department Chairperson
Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging
San Jose State University
