She was born in Portland on April 25, 1952 the daughter of Charles David and Marion Joyce Crawford Hillman. Her family took over her paternal grandfather’s family “Sunnydale Farm’s” when he entered Maine politics. The family moved to Bangor and eventually moved to Presque Isle.
She graduated from Presque Isle High School in 1970, received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono in 1973 and her PhD from Indiana University in 1983. She had been a tenured assistant professor at North Adams State College in Massachusetts, a tenured associate professor and department chair at St. Joseph’s University in West Hartford, Connecticut, an associate professor with a one-year appointment at the University of Maine, Fort Kent and a tenured full professor, chair, and founding director of the Center for the Enrichment of Teaching and Learning (CETL) at the University of New England.
She served on the Maine Aububon Board, the Portland Friends School and the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA). She was the 2012 State of Maine project Learning Tree Steward and was the 2011 UNE’s Kenneally Cup recipient for Distinguished Academic Service to Undergraduate Students.
With UNE colleagues she brought in over 3.6 million dollars’ worth of STEM grant money. She had published 20 papers in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, given 22 international and national presentations and over 30 state and regional presentations.
She married Stephan I. Zeeman in 2006. Together they enjoyed spending time at “Munk Cove,” Lake Penneseewassee in Norway. She enjoyed tent camping, cooking from scratch, reading, weaving and playing games. Her most precious time was spent with her family: husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandson.
She is survived by her husband, Stephan I. Zeeman of Biddeford and Norway; her daughter Amy Hillman-Siracusa and her husband Reza Assakereh; a grandson, Jai H. Assakereh; her siblings, Mari Tanner, Cynthia Hillman Forbush, Marjory Hillman and Chip Hillman and their families; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, including long time summer residents Ann Lowrey, Hope and Jack Pribram and families; and her loyal and affectionate dogs, Shuqi and Butter and numerous others including her very first one, Stewart.
She was predeceased by a brother, Earl Hillman in 1985, a nephew Gregory Bryar in 1988 and cousins Fredrick Colby Hillman in 1986, Fred Lowery in 1998 and uncle John Crawford Lowery in 2015.
Special thanks and appreciation to the members of “Team Susan” who helped out tremendously. Special kudos to Addie and the Marine Science Team who swiftly removed all rugs from the camp for better maneuverability. Three words that sum up Susan’s life: Integrity, tent camping and laughter.
Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com
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