Susan Lane Eskridge Hamburg, 64, of Orlando, FL, died Tuesday, July 19 while under hospice care at an Orlando hospital. She passed peacefully following a courageous three-month fight with a severe brain infection and abdominal cancer.

Born and raised in Louisville, Susan grew up in the Fern Creek area and loved recalling childhood days that seemed from another era (like her grade-school fire drills that consisted of riding down some tall indoor slide that would deposit kids outside the elementary). She also loved rooting for her Kentucky Wildcats (they can do no wrong), and praising nearly all dogs, especially her last two rescue dogs – Rocco and Scout – who provided her with endless laughs.

As good friends know, she also adored Elvis (saw him in Louisville concerts twice and tried to chase after his plane once).

A 1975 graduate of Fern Creek High and a 1979 graduate of the University of Kentucky, Susan founded a successful communications, promotions, and events management company after learning the ropes by managing franchise-opening events before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. and on weekends, while still holding down a regular 40-hour job.

After working on several national campaigns with brands recognized around the world , s he later co-founded a public relations group called USPR (usprnetwork.com) with members throughout the U.S. and several other countries.

Susan's close friends, including her dear Alpha Xi Delta sisters, called her "Skridge," and those friends and colleagues now recall her as smart, funny, determined and kind. She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Eskridge, by 3 years, and by her mother, Marjorie (Standiford) Eskridge, by three days.

Susan is survived by her husband of 41 years, Jay, of Orlando; brother, Keith (Kathy); sister, Elizabeth; nieces, Melissa and Emily; nephew, Matthew (Alice) and grandniece Scarlett Marjorie, all of Louisville. Plans for an online celebration of her life will be announced on her Facebook page, Fern Creek Alumni page, and other appropriate sites soon.

Consider supporting the American Cancer Society, a hospice program, or a dog rescue organization in her memory.

The online celebration of the life of Susan Eskridge Hamburg is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT on September 8. The link will be live about 15-20 minutes ahead of time, and a short, simple memorial video will run on a loop in the Zoom waiting room before the event starts.

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