Suzan Marie Bookhardt

Suzan Marie Bookhardt, 59, passed away March 4th, 2014. She is survived by her daughter Laura Severino (Albert), her son Patrick McKinney (Jessica), sisters Virginia Ball and Julie Bookhardt, brother David Bookhardt, and five grandchildren Trent, Tate, Emma, Tre' and Brice. Suzan was born in Orlando, Florida and graduated from Oakridge High School in 1972. In 1974, she married Philip McKinney, the father of her two children. In 2004, she moved to Lookout Mountain, Georgia and then moved to St. Petersburg, Florida this past year. At the age of five, she began taking piano lessons. By age 14, she was training to become a piano teacher. Suzan earned her BA degree in Concert Piano from the University of Central Florida. Later she earned her MA in Music Education from Furman University. Suzan was a Choral Director, teaching students in grades K-12 and taught private piano for 30 years. She had a passion for piano, singing and was extremely committed to helping her students develop into excellent musicians. Her love, compassion and caring spirit were evident to all. The young lives she touched are still acknowledged by all of her former students. In the 'family tree' of piano teachers, Suzan was an 8th generation direct descendent of composers Hadyn, Beethoven, and Czerny. Services will be held at 1pm Friday, March 7th, at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg.