Suzanne Marie Shaute

Suzanne Marie Shaute, actress and beloved teacher, died Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Highland Place Senior Living, Inverness, Fla.

Ms. Shaute was a gifted actress and singer and free spirit who lived life to the fullest by following her dreams and inspiring those around her to follow theirs. She performed in professional shows across the country before later returning to Northeastern Pennsylvania to pursue teaching.

She was born on July 15, 1931 in Scranton, Pennsylvania and was the daughter of the late Joseph B. and Mary Alice (Ahern) Shaute. Her father was a Major League baseball left handed pitcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cleveland Indians. Growing up in Clarks Green, she was a graduate of the 1949 Clarks-Summit-Abington High School where she performed in many of the school’s theatrical productions. She always knew she wanted to work in show business and received her Bachelor of Music in 1953 from Eastman School of Music, earning her Performers’ Certificate (Voice and Opera) in 1954. She studied Dramatics, Speech, Dance at the American Theater Wing, NYC from 1955-1956.

In true carpe diem form, after college she hugged her family good-bye and hopped on a bus to pursue her career in acting. She loved “the business” as she affectionately referred to it and traveled the country acting and singing in countless professional productions and worked with many stars including Irving Berlin. She appeared with Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun at Lincoln Center. She was a soloist at Radio City Music Hall in many Christmas Productions, sometimes performing five times a day to sold out crowds. Other professional credits include performing in Vagabond King as a lead, Kean with Alfred Drake, Foxy with Bert Lahr and Wonderful Town with Nancy Walker and Ziegfeld Follies with Bea Lillie and Billy DeWolfe. Always ready to help actresses just getting started in the field, she advised for a successful audition “wear a red dress and pick a song that ends in a high note.”

Ms. Shaute also appeared on many television shows including the Sid Caesar Show, Bell Telephone Hour, Patti Page Show, Kate Smith Show, Perry Como Show, NBC Opera Company, Lambertville Circus Tent, Skaneateles Circus Tent. She also performed in many industrial shows for Cadillac Chevrolet and Oldsmobile.

She was an educator in the Abington Heights School District and taught the elementary and High School Vocal Music Program and taught Dramatics and Oral Communications. While teaching she continued her education at Marywood University and Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre. She received her Master of Arts degree in 1969 from Marywood University. She also directed numerous school musicals, plays and Christmas Pageants. She was a dedicated teacher and drama and music coach who inspired numerous young people. Many of her students excelled in district, regional and all-state chorus festival. Former student and Curriculum Specialist for the Northeastern Intermediate Unit #19, Dr. Catherine Richmond-Cullen said of Ms. Shaute, “she was my favorite teacher, one whom I discuss when I am conducting professional development workshops for teachers. She was creative, intelligent, talented and demanding. She expected excellence in her students. Miss Shaute knew what life would present to us and she prepared us for success in our endeavors. I consider her a mentor and lifelong friend. I am eternally grateful for her dedication to and love of teaching.”

She was a lector and Eucharistic Minister of Our Lady of the Snows Church. Professional memberships included: Abington Heights Education Association, Pennsylvania State Education Association, National Music Educators Association, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Teachers Singing, Actors Equity, American Federation of Television and Radio Association, American Guild of Variety Artists and the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Surviving: a nephew, Rev. Joseph J. Shaute, Atlanta, Ga.; a niece, Michele Skronski and husband Thomas, Atlanta, Ga.; and several cousins, including Catherine Price O’Malley, Clarks Summit and Frederick Price (Lourdes), Estero, Fla. and John Price, Carbondale (Mary Ellen).

She was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph J. Shaute.

The funeral will be with a Mass in Our Lady of the Snows Church and interment, St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society-Lackawanna Unit, 1101 Hill St. Jessup, PA 18434. Arrangements are entrusted to be made by the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and cremation Services Inc.