Susie Ganzenmuller, a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and one of the most instrumental women’s lacrosse officials in the sport’s history, died on April 3.
Ganzenmuller contributed decades of service to the sport as a professional and volunteer. A nationally-rated umpire since 1989 and internationally-rated since 1991, Ganzenmuller officiated the 1993 and 1997 World Cups, 11 NCAA Division I championship weekends and was technical delegate at multiple world championships.
“My fondest memories of Suzie are from all the games we worked together,” said Hall of Fame official, Pat Dillon. “All of the travel, the time spent in the car, eating together. When you spend that much time together, you better like the person you’re with to make it enjoyable. She was a steady presence on the field and was never in it for her ego gratification. She took the game seriously, but always wanted to have fun.”
Ganzenmuller chaired the former United States Women's Lacrosse Association's National Umpiring Committee from 1992 to 1996. The USWLA honored her with the Nancy Chance Service Award in 1997, the same year she wrote and directed the "Stars and Stripes" rules and officiating video. The Potomac Chapter of US Lacrosse inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2005. A grant for local officials organization to utilize the US Lacrosse Observers Program was established in 2012 and named in her honor.
“Susie was the definition of everything an official should be — full of grace, humble, dedicated, knowledgeable, witty, observant, confident, visionary and appreciative of the history of women’s lacrosse,” said Ann Kitt Carpenetti, Vice President, Lacrosse Operations for US Lacrosse. “Susie was a servant leader, mentor and friend to so many officials around the globe and without question, the standard for officiating and leadership that Susie demonstrated in her years of service has left a permanent imprint on the game and with the many women's lacrosse officials, coaches and athletes who knew and will miss her.”
“She always had the interest of the officials at heart,” Dillon said. “She was a very thoughtful, caring person.”
As the Vice President of Rules and Umpiring for the former International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Asocciations from 200 to 2007, she worked to revise the IFWLA Crosse specifications, rulebook and umpiring manual. She received the IFWLA/ILF/World Lacrosse Honorary Member Award in 2009. She conducted 25 years of umpire training in seven countries with her stateside training impacting the sport at the local, district and national levels.
“There are so many people whose lives she’s touched,” said Hall of Fame official Laurette Payette. “When I sent out an email [informing people of Ganzenmuller’s illness], for two days I was just inundated with people sharing stories of Susie. There are so many stories, even from people I don’t know, and they all talk about the same generous, compassionate person. She had a smile that would light up a room and her laughter was infectious.”