Suz Montgomery’s passion for the quality of life in Ventura County led to her longtime support of the Ventura Land Trust, where she served on our Advisory Council. It merged perfectly with her well-known passion for community service.

In that spirit, her husband and best friend John Hankins requested that those who wish to honor Suz donate to the Ventura Land Trust, one of the organizations that she loved the most.

As a true leader, she was more interested in change itself than the glory of it. She affected that change most often from behind the scenes, letting others take the credit. She was a fierce advocate for women and girls, seniors, people coping with mental illness, diversity and more. Her political activism and relentless networking resulted in tremendous change in our community that carries on with mentors and a vast network of friends.

Suz fought cancer fiercely until the very end on October 12, 2021. Much beloved, her passing unleashed a torrent of remembrances and tributes from throughout the region.

From the bottom of our hearts to everyone visiting this page in honor of Suz and her amazing tenacity and dedication, the Ventura Land Trust board and staff would like to thank you for your own love for community and for your support.

Click on the link to donate towards a bench in Suz Montgomery’s memory

Donate

If you prefer to donate towards Suz’s bench by check, please mail it to the following address with Suz Montgomery written in the memo line.

Ventura Land Trust

P.O. Box 1284

Ventura, CA 93002

“Suz Montgomery had a profound impact on my life. She was deeply committed to our community and to living her life out loud. She celebrated each person she met with such authenticity and encouragement. She was a change maker in our community and truly touched so many lives. She was an inspiration to me and I know that her spirit lives on through the lives she touched. I will strive to be bold and live life out loud in honor of Suz (making sure to do so with fine wine, good food and interesting people like Suz would do!). I’m grateful to have known her and will miss her tremendously. She was a beautiful soul and our community and world is better because of the difference she made. I hope that we all carry her spirit forward in making a positive change in Ventura and beyond,”

Ashley Bautista