Remembering Suzanne ‘Suzie’ DeGraff

Beloved JUF employee Suzanne DeGraff, who served the community for a quarter-century, died on Sept. 24.

DeGraff–familiarly known as Suzie–was initially hired by JUF as a secretary in 1997 and then transitioned to administrative aide four years later. In 2010, DeGraff became then-JUF President Steven B. Nasatir’s Executive Administrative Assistant and served in that role for the remainder of his tenure as president–and continued to work hand-in-hand with Nasatir until her passing.

“Suzie had the energy of those half her age, and the experience and wisdom to be a valued colleague to many–and an irreplaceable friend to me,” recalled Nasatir, who now serves as JUF Executive Vice Chairman.

DeGraff was dedicated to her two sons and four grandchildren. “She was honest and forthright,” recalled her son, Steven DeGraff. “You always knew where you stood. She exhibited that in both her personal and professional life. She practiced tough love on my brother and me…and it taught us to stand up for ourselves. But internally, she could not have been more loving. She devoted her life to her grandkids and was very close with them.

Originally from Terre Haute, Ind., DeGraff graduated Indiana University in Bloomington, studying English and Spanish, which she then taught at Chicago’s Tuley High School in the 1960s. After raising her children, she returned to the workforce in the 1980s as a talent agent for radio and TV personalities, and as a legal secretary in a Chicago law firm.

Then, in the mid ’90s, DeGraff owned and ran Winkelstein’s, an upscale delicatessen she established. She ran every aspect of the business and even developed the menu and recipes, overseeing a staff of nearly 60 and expanding into catering.

Barb Bastie, who worked alongside DeGraff for 25 years, is JUF’s current Executive Administrative Assistant to the President. “I admired her,” Bastie said. “She never gave up on anything, and reinvented herself so many times–she was so open to learning. She loved interacting with colleagues and donors. She was very smart and creative–a one-of-a-kind. I will miss her dearly.”

Suzanne DeGraff (nee Simon) was the loving and devoted mother of Steven (Jami) and the late Scott DeGraff, and the cherished grandmother of Alix, Danny, Dylan, and Caitlin. The caring sister of Linda (the late Saul) Foos, she was the dear aunt, cousin, and friend of many. A graveside service was held at Shalom Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to JUF. Arrangements were made by Shalom Memorial Funeral Home.