Suzanne Marie Johansen

It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of our beloved Suzanne.  She passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025 in her home, surrounded by family and friends, after a long and brave battle with a rare form of kidney cancer.

Suzanne was deeply loved and will forever be missed by her treasured daughter Ava McCann (17), husband Tim Leavitt, parents Steve and Bonnie Johansen, sisters Jennifer Romero (Michael) and Gina Cornish (Timothy), and five nieces and nephews (Christine and Trevor Romero; Sophia, Maggie, and Jace Cornish).  

Suzanne was born in Fresno, California on January 8, 1970.  As a young child, the family lived in Modesto and San Diego.  The bulk of her adolescence she lived in Fresno, attending Bullard High School, where she made lifelong friends and was active in leadership, cheer, and athletics.  She went on to Fresno State and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Administration/Marketing.

In 1996, she moved to Portland and immediately loved the city, its people, and its culture.  She had a 10-year career in banking before transitioning to Tournament Golf Foundation, a non-profit for professional women’s golf, where she worked for 13 years.  In 2019, she found another niche and new challenge in the wealth management industry, surpassing new expectations in spite of her daily battle with a cancer diagnosis.  Through all these years, she was an active member of the Portland community, collecting and maintaining many dear friends, neighbors, school groups, and colleagues.  They have all been so supportive, especially through this tragic time.  In addition, Ava’s father, Mat McCann, has been a steady support and friend to the family.  

Suzanne always felt her biggest blessing and greatest achievement in life was her daughter Ava.  Ava came first.  Always.  She often expressed how fortunate she felt to have met her husband Tim in her later years.  From the minute they met, she felt they were “in sync”, from the simple daily routines to the big adventures.

A special thank you to her many teams of doctors and medical staff, the cancer floor at Providence Portland Hospital, and Hospice Care Partners.

In lieu of flowers, Suzanne requested donations be made to St. Jude or Shriners Children’s Portland.