Susan Hoyt Kamp
In loving memory:
Susan Hoyt Kamp, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, at her home, The Marbella in Naples, Florida. Throughout her life, Sue was known for her kindness and attentiveness to others. She was surrounded by family and her caregiver Sabiha holding her hand to the very end. She faced a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease with positivity, grace, and an enduring sense of humor that sustained both herself and those who loved her.
Sue was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 1, 1948, daughter to Marilyn “Gussie” Seibke Hoyt and Joseph Hoyt. Sue attended Washington High School in Cedar Rapids and enjoyed summers on West Lake Okoboji in Northwest Iowa, where she developed a love for the water and for her future husband, John.
She attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, before transferring to the University of Iowa to earn a Bachelor of Education, and later a Doctorate of Education from the University of Tulsa.
Susan married John Francis Kamp on August 29, 1970, which solidified a partnership that spanned 60 years of shared adventures, challenges, and joys. Together they created a loving home living in Iowa City, Iowa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Arlington, Virginia, where they raised two children, Elizabeth and Matthew, along with several toy poodles. Sue was an incredible mother who provided unconditional love and was a strong advocate for her children’s education through the PTA.
Sue loved to travel with family and friends. She and John visited and cruised Europe, South America, and beyond. Memorable trips were to Paris, Normandy, Serbia, Copenhagen (where Sue was photographed next to the little mermaid – ironically, her grandson Joshua had a featured role in his high school’s Little Mermaid musical just days before her passing), Machu Picchu, and the Amazon in Peru (in a camp that had no electricity or hot water). She shared her love of travel with her children, taking them on cruises in the Mediterranean, the Bahamas, and Mexico. They also traveled to Costa Rica and enjoyed visits to Disney World and Legoland with her grandchildren.
Sue loved playing cards and board games with family and friends, watching game shows, musicals, and movies, boating, gardening, and the holidays. Her favorite holidays were Christmas and birthdays, which she celebrated all month long.
Later in life, Sue took up painting, knitting, and yoga. She traveled with painting groups to Italy, Croatia, and Greece and enjoyed a yoga trip to India. Sue learned to knit, primarily to carry on her mother’s tradition of crafting personalized Christmas stockings for everyone in the family.
Professionally, Sue utilized her doctorate in Education to serve as a classroom teacher, mentor, and college professor. At the Council for Exceptional Children, she wrote grants that secured more money for schools for Special Education. After her kids were grown, she returned to the workplace to serve as the Director of Education at the Software Publishers Association, where she convinced states to change their laws to allow computers and software to be part of the textbook budget. She also helped create the first interoperability standards for educational administrative software.
Upon retirement, Sue and John moved to Oyster Cove in Grasonville, Maryland. This quickly became her beloved home on the Chesapeake Bay, where she was surrounded by great friends and where she and John could sit on their deck to enjoy the “Sue View” of the Bay, watching the boats stream by. At Oyster Cove, Sue was the long-time president of the homeowners association and was universally recognized and admired by the community for providing firm and responsive leadership.
She is survived by her husband, John; her children, Matt and Liz; their spouses Jacqui and Eric; and her cherished grandchildren, Joshua (17), Logan (14), and Audrey (12). She is also survived by her sister, Babs; brothers, Jay and Tom; as well as John’s sisters Sue Ann and Mary Jo and brother Tom, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends who felt honored to be part of her life.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Gussie and Joe. The family takes comfort in believing she is now at peace, free of the limitations of illness, and reunited with those who went before her.
The family would like to give special recognition to Sue’s long-term caregiver, Sabiha Barwari, for the exceptional care and love that she gave Sue in her final years. We will never forget her dedication to Sue’s well-being and the comfort that Sabiha provided the whole family during an important time of her life. The family would also like to genuinely thank all the staff at the Cove and throughout The Marbella for their dedication and warmth. We thank you for treating Sue with dignity and humanity. We are deeply grateful to everyone for everything that you did to keep Sue comfortable. Additionally, Sue’s family would like to thank the residents of The Marbella for their outpouring of support and sympathy.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Sue’s memory to the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida or to a charity of your choice that reflects her lifelong interests in special education.