Susan Jane Winslow

PORTLAND – Susan Jane Winslow, of Portland, passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, 2025, surrounded by family and friends after a long illness. She was born on Dec. 27, 1958, in Bangor, Maine, the daughter of Alfred William Winslow and Patricia (Gradie) Winslow.

A graduate of Hamden Academy, Susan went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Maine. She was also a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and spent more than 30 years working as a dedicated psychiatric nurse. Throughout her career she cared for thousands of patients in inpatient units, outpatient services, and emergency departments. Even during her illness, Susan continued to share her knowledge and passion for the profession as a nursing instructor at USM, UMA, UMPI, UNE, and St. Joseph’s.

Susan’s career brought her deep fulfillment. Among her most cherished accomplishments were her work in a clinic providing care to people living with schizophrenia and her travels to the Dominican Republic, where she assisted the nuns in treating those in the barrio. She was also proud to be a founding member of the PIER Program at the Maine Medical Center, a pioneering research and outreach effort focused on detecting early-onset psychosis in young people.

Susan spent her early childhood at the family camp in Surry, Maine, exploring rocky shores, scraggly pines, and chilly waters alongside her brother Gradie and her best friend Carol McMannus.

She loved animals deeply and was happiest in the company of her horses, dogs, and cats. An avid equestrian, she rode dressage in Dixmont, as a teenager and later fulfilled her dream of galloping through the blue waters of Puerto Rico and across the grassy plains of Africa.

Travel was one of Susan’s greatest joys. Her journeys took her from Australia to the Caribbean, to Spain, Denmark, China, and beyond. No matter where she was in the world, she had a gift for gathering people around her table—strangers who soon became friends—sharing meals, stories, and laughter.

Whether hiking through the jungles of Jamaica or fishing from a small skiff off Tobago, Susan faced every misadventure with grace and humor. Even when lost in the woods or when the boat was taking on water, she believed that worry was wasted energy—there were parrots to admire in the trees, and Psalm 23 was always on the bow.

If you met Susan, you remembered her. Her laughter, wit, and warmth left a lasting imprint on everyone she encountered.

Susan is survived by her daughter Fan Tai Bridges and husband Paul Bridges; her brother Gradie Winslow; her aunt Josselyn Winslow; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who loved her dearly. She was predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Patricia Winslow; her uncles Frank Winslow, and William “Bill” Gradie, her aunt Anne Cooper; and her grandmother Charlotte “Mimi” Gradie.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at The Gosnell House, New England Cancer Specialists, and Maine Medical Center for their loving and compassionate care.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring, when the flowers and birds return.