Susan Schwartz Stroock, 72, formerly of Emmaus, died March 30, 2019, after a two-year struggle with cancer. She was the wife of Chris Hackler. Born in Memphis, Tenn., she moved with her family to Forest Hills, N.Y. at the age of three.

She had an amazing zest for life and loved hiking, dancing and travel, especially to spots of natural beauty. In addition to many U.S. national parks, she and her husband had visited over 40 countries. They continued to travel after her diagnosis, most recently to Antarctica, a lifelong dream.

She majored in biology at Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. and graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. She was determined to succeed despite discrimination against women in science in graduate school and later in hiring.

She taught at Northampton Community College, where she and a colleague developed a novel way of teaching biology to non-majors, combining study of topics in biology with their inherent social and ethical issues. The method was featured in an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. She was also awarded the inaugural adjunct “Teacher of the Year” award at Northampton. Later, she spent seven years teaching biology at Muhlenberg College, Allentown.

Upon moving to Little Rock, Ark., she was hired by Pulaski Technical College to teach in their cooperative program with Baptist Health College. There she taught anatomy and physiology to nursing and allied health students. Her courses were always in high demand. She had a special way of explaining highly complex facts in simple language and with homespun analogies. She was delighted when former students came to her in restaurants or in clinics to tell her how much her course had contributed to their success.

She is survived by her husband; son, Douglas; brother, Stanley Schwartz and former exchange student, who was like another son, Anatoliy Shatkovskyy, his wife Inna and their daughter, Sophia.

Contributions may be made to an animal rescue or wildlife support fund, or your favorite charity.

Services were held in Little Rock, Ark.