PASSAGES: SUZANNE DI MASCIO, R.N., MANAGER OF RYAN WHITE PROGRAM AND DIRECTOR OF AMERICHOICE, LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

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WIFE OF EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE'S BUSINESS MANAGER WILL BE MISSED

May 11, 2009 (Santee)—Suzanne (“Suzy”) Marie Di Mascio, a leading voice in San Diego’s healthcare community and wife of East County Magazine’s business manager Leon Thompson, passed away on May 7, 2009 at San Diego Hospice following a long battle against cancer. Her efforts helped improve access to healthcare services for thousands of people in San Diego County.

Working as Chief Nurse at the Linda Vista Healthcare Center, she crafted a plan to help clinics qualify for County Medical Services (CMS) funds. Her plan became a model that was later used by clinics countywide, helping to assure healthcare services for those in need. She was instrumental in the design and startup operations for the CMS program. AmeriChoice hired her to serve as director, running the CMS program.

For the last twenty years of her career, she worked with AmeriChoice in San Diego. She was integral in establishing the San Diego Chapter for the Ryan White Program that helps those afflicted with HIV and AIDS. A, a group of medical directors asked DiMascio to serve as the Ryan White program manager. She wrote policies and procedures to establish the program and continued serving as program manager until shortly before her death.

She also served as president of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA), San Diego Chapter. She was born Suzanne Marie Kyle on December 1, 1941, in Springfield, Ohio, to Robert W. Kyle and Margaret Elizabeth (Legge) Kyle. After graduating from Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, Ohio, as a registered nurse, she worked for the Springfield City Health Department and in private medical practices. She obtained nursing licenses in Ohio, Washington, Illinois and California. She also attended Wittenberg University in Ohio and National University in San Diego. In her spare time, she enjoyed painting, drawing and traveling to art shows. She also enjoyed meeting new people, being exposed to other cultures, walking on the beach and spending time with her family.

She married Leon Thompson in September 2001. She is survived by her husband, Leon in Santee, her sons, Daniel DiMascio in Washington and Christopher DiMascio in San Diego, her daughter, Denise DiMascio in Fresno, her grandchildren, Ryan, Alex, Stephan and Sydnee DiMascio in Washington, and her sister, Kathleen, in Illinois. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Peter Di Mascio and Charles Blasdel.

Leon and Suzy have been prominent community members in East County for many years. She was a strong supporter of East County Magazine and ECM's publisher, the Heartland Coalition. Her encouragement and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by many here.

Friends and family are invited to join in the celebration of her life at 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2009 at Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 Fifth Avenue, San Diego 92103, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Suzy to Sports for Exceptional Athletes at http://www.s4ea.org.


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