After High School I went to the University of Illinois and in 1972 received a BS in Speech and Hearing Science. Then I attended Northwestern University and in 1973 received a MA and Speech and Language Pathology. I worked for six years in the East Alton, IL School District as the Director of the Early Childhood Special Education Program during which time I did a great deal of public speaking, published articles in professional journals and obtained certification in Education Administration. Thereafter, I took a three year leave of absence during which time I went to law school and in 1982 I obtained a juris doctor from Washington University School of Law. Since that time I have practiced law in a small town in Southern Illinois as a sole practitioner in a general law practice handling among other things, adoptions, contested family litigation, estate planning, social security disability, work comp and uncontested personal injury matters. For about 18 years I was on the Board of the Gastro Intestinal Research Foundation at the University of Chicago and was a fellow in the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. For almost two decades I have volunteered as a judge for the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competitions.

I am married to Gary Grammer, who is also an attorney (BA Northwestern, JD Univ of IL) and does financial planning. He works in my office part time. We have been married for 25 years and have three fantastic children: Rebecca who graduated in 2007 from Johns Hopkins University and has now completed her first year at Harvard Medical School; Melissa who graduated in 2008 from Johns Hopkins University and will attend Loyola Medical School beginning July 2008; and Geoffrey who is a rising junior at the University of Missouri, majoring in finance and admitted to the business school. He plans to earn an MBA.

Although we lived in Southern Illinois, I wanted my children to have a taste of the North Shore, so they each went to camp for eight years in Eagle River, WI. It was always fun to come up north to the camp bus which left from Northbrook Court; always bringing back pleasant memories.

I have lived in Southern Illinois since graduation from Northwestern University. You might think living in Southern Illinois is relaxing, but I can assure you my life is definitely busy and anything but laid back. I work long hours but love vacations which we take as a family as frequently as possible. In my "off time" our family enjoys boating, traveling, entertaining, watching movies and going to Temple. Even though our children are away at school, they call us all the time and seem to come home for visits quite frequently, which is very nice. My husband and I also enjoy cooking and are in a gourmet dinner club.

I have stayed in touch with many of my friends from high school which has been especially rewarding personally and professionally. Not only has it been fun visit with one another over the years, but we have been able to see and enjoy each other's children growing up and becoming terrific adults.

This is recent snapshot of me & my husband at our daughter's graduation from Johns Hopkins May 2008.

This is a family snapshot taken at our son's graduation from St. Louis Country Day School May 2006.

And this is where we live.

If you have time, please visit me on my web site at: www.grammerlaw.com, e-mail me at sfglaw1@aol.com or call me.

I hope to see all of you at the reunion in Sept. 2008 and look forward to visiting with you whenever you have a chance.

With fond memories,
Susan Grammer
618-259-2113 office
618-465-7212 home
618-791-3508 mobile