Susan Souders Obrecht, former owner of Baltimore Magazine, the Towson Times and other publications, died Sunday at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was 61.
Her death was first reported in The Darien Times. A cause of death was not given. The newspaper said she “passed away …at home with her loving family by her side.“
Born in Minneapolis, Obrecht graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and spent much of her life in the publishing industry.
In 1978, she married Maryland businessman Thomas “Tommy” Obrecht in a wedding covered by The New York Times. She made her mark on the Baltimore media scene in the 1980s and 1990s as the head of a group that operated community newspapers in Baltimore County, including The Towson Times.
As head of ESS Ventures, she also owned Mid-Atlantic Country magazine, a regional travel and lifestyle publication that she acquired in 1989, and Baltimore Magazine, which she acquired in 1992.
Obrecht’s tenure as president of Baltimore Magazine ended when she sold it in 1994 to current owner Stephen Geppi. Her term was controversial because she fired most of the staff when she bought the magazine. After the sale, she moved to New York, where she worked as a media consultant.
According to the Darien Times, Obrecht is survived by her parents William and Barbara Souders, of Darien, Connecticut, and by her sister Sally Souders Firestein, brother-in-law David, and their four children.
A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church of New Canaan, 23 Park Street in New Canaan, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11:00 a.m.
Anybody got any kind words?
Anybody?
I didn’t know her, but she was the publisher when I held my first job in journalism as the education reporter for the Towson Times. She made a striking impression. What a sad ending to a promising life.
Susan worked for me at Maryland Casualty right after she graduated from college. Very motivated, very pretty and very nice. Eager to learn. Even then, very well-connected. We took different paths, but I have often wondered where she ended up and what she did. Fond memories of her style and confidence. She was a special lady. So sad to hear of her passing – way too young.