Obituary of Susan Marie Pierce

Susan Marie Pierce, 62, of Herndon, VA, passed away suddenly Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, from as massive stroke, at Reston Hospital Center, surrounded by her loving family. Susan was born in Alpena, Michigan to the late John J. and Bertha M. Schmitz. She graduated from Alpena High School in 1968, where she played flute in the marching band and thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the debate team. On June 14, 1969 Susan married Paul M. Pierce in Alpena. Paul served in the US Air Force for 21 years, which allowed them an opportunity to travel the world and meet many people. They lived in Oscoda, MI, Las Vegas, NV, Ogden, UT, Upper Heyford, England, and Camp Springs, MD. Upon Paul's retirement from the military they made Herndon, VA their permanent home, where they raised their 3 sons. Susan was passionate about education and firmly believed that a solid educational foundation could launch a lifetime of achievement. She earned an Associate Degree (magna cum laude) from Alpena Community College in 1971, where she was later honored with the Distinguished Graduate Award in 2000. Throughout her 45-year career in medical information, she also earned and maintained many certification credentials pertinent to her profession, including RHIA, CHPS, CMT, and AHDI-F. Later in life, after affording her sons the opportunity to earn their engineering degrees, she attended Prince George's Community College and earned an Associate Degree as a Medical Records Technician, followed by a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (summa cum laude) from Strayer University, all while employed full-time, completing a few classes at a time. Her successful career path began with part-time employment at Alpena Medical Arts Clinic while attending high school, and ended the day before she passed, as she was last employed as a Health Systems Specialist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to that she was Chief of the Medical Records Administration Division at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While employed as Director of Professional Services at HealthScribe Inc., she travelled to India twice to teach medical transcription to citizens there. She sought to educate others by teaching as an adjunct instructor at Northern Virginia Community College and was a presenter at many conferences nationwide. Susan loved people and wanted to be around them to share her beliefs that they could do anything that they set their minds to do. Susan was an entrepreneur (medical transcription business). She enjoyed countless hours as a member of the American Association of Medical Transcriptionists, serving as their treasurer in 1995-96 and their national president in 1997. Susan authored a book for Dorland's Publications entitled Immunology and Endocrinology Word Book for Medical Transcriptionists. In 2003-04, she was president of the District of Columbia Health Information Management Association. In 2011, she served as president of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. Susan loved being a mother and was actively involved with camping, cub scouts, baseball, soccer, swim teams, and band and orchestra concerts, as her sons grew up. She later became a beloved grandmother to her two grandsons, and she thoroughly enjoyed attending their activities and playing cards and games with them. Susan had a great sense of humor and embarked on numerous little "adventures" in life, most recently traveling with Paul along the complete Route 66, taking several Caribbean cruises, and relishing family vacations to Michigan, Nevada and California. She brought her smile into her favorite past times of knitting, crocheting, reading the "real" printed page, and antique collection, but most importantly her visits with family and friends. Surviving are her husband of 43 years, Paul M. Pierce of Herndon, VA; 3 sons, Geoff (Victoria) of Ashburn, VA, Jeremy (Heather) of Greenville, NC, and Todd (dear friend Megan) of Richmond, VA; 2 grandsons, Geoffrey and Alex of Ashburn, VA, who were her pride and joy; sister Mary Jane (Larry) Thomson of Alpena, MI; 2 nephews, Andrew Thomson and Errol Burrow Jr.; 2 nieces Amy (Steven) Hall and Abigail Thomson. Internment: Upon the death of her husband Paul, the two have decided their ashes will be buried together at Arlington National Cemetery in recognition of their many years of dedication and service in the United States Military. Memorials may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure (www.komen.org), and online messages can be shared with Susan's family at this website.