Susan Beasy Latto

Susan Beasy Latto passed away peacefully on April 21, 2026 after a brief illness. Her son Aaron held her hands as she drew her last breath. She was 84 years old.

Susan was born Susan Roberta Beasy in Hibbing, Minnesota. She spent many days of her childhood at a fire hall in Hibbing where her father Emil worked, following his stint as a fullback for the Green Bay Packers football team. She graduated from Hibbing High School in 1959, a friend and classmate of Bob Dylan (né Zimmerman). They enjoyed theater together and he wrote a short poem in her yearbook, which he signed as “A fan.” Dylan’s mother Beatty Zimmerman was close friends with Susan’s mother Esther, and years later Beatty threw a bridal shower for Susan.

She attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating in 1963 with degrees in Speech and Theater. Through later studies at UMD, she was one credit shy of earning an M.Ed. in Special Education.

She left to teach school in San Diego, California for a few years, returning to Duluth to marry and start a family. She married Lewis M. Latto Jr. in 1965 and actively partnered with him to launch his political career as a Duluth City Councilor and business career in local radio. She taught school at West Junior High and East High School in Duluth until she decided to focus on raising her two children. She continued to act, volunteer, and participate in Junior League of Duluth during this time. She held roles in many performances at the Duluth Playhouse over the years, including “Hedda Gabler” and “Sly Fox.” She served on community organization boards including WDSE-TV, the Duluth Playhouse, and the Junior League. She also served on then-named Alcoholic Beverage Board for the City of Duluth.

She returned to the paid workforce in the early 1980s to hold leadership roles at the Greater Downtown Council of Duluth, then became University Relations Director for UMD until her retirement in 2010. At UMD, she worked closely with Chancellor Kathryn Martin on major projects including Weber Music Hall and the Swenson Science Building, promoting the launch of the women’s hockey program that quickly won five national championships, telling UMD’s story through various scandals and challenges, and tirelessly promoting the successes and expanding regional profile of UMD. She regularly met with the Minnesota legislature in St. Paul to advocate for UMD, and she traveled to the White House as a part of UMD delegations. She was trained in crisis communications at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute in Maryland.

Susan was an early adopter of complementary medicine with its focus on holistic treatment, nutrition, and food quality. She was a voracious reader of newspapers and magazines, regularly schooling her son on the interconnectedness of world events and how Minnesota (mostly) does it better than so many other places. She was a tireless advocate for the disabled in the Duluth Public Schools and across the community, as well as a fiercely loyal friend.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents Emil and Esther (née Olson) Beasy of Hibbing, Minnesota and her brother Peter Beasy of Walnut Creek, California. She is survived by her son Aaron (Beth) of Cincinnati, Ohio; daughter Caroline of Duluth; and beloved granddaughters Paige (Boulder, Colorado) and Nina (Eugene, Oregon) who are both college students. She was close to her brother Peter’s children: Alan (Doreen) Beasy of Concord, California; Jay (Wendy) Beasy of Anthem, Arizona; and Leigha (Jamie) Perry of Pleasanton, California.

A celebration of life will be scheduled later this spring.

Memorials in the Latto Family name may be given to CHOICE, Unlimited. CHOICE, Unlimited is a 33-year-old non-profit organization in Duluth that supports the employment and community needs of people with disabilities. This organization has been very important in our lives for 30+ years.

Contact: CHOICE, Unlimited Executive Director Kristie Buchman 500 East 10th Street, Suite 300 Duluth MN 55805 https://www.choiceunlimited.org//donate/

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555. Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.