Susan Koza

How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
Since July of 2020. My husband, John, and I moved to Tucson from the Monterey Bay area, California in the middle of the pandemic. That meant we had to worship online.

Our first in-person worship service was the Easter sunrise service in the labyrinth. COVID required that people make a reservation for each service so we waited until an hour before the deadline. (We didn’t want to take seats from any parishioners.) When we checked, enough seats were still available that John and I signed up.

What do you appreciate about Saint Philip’s?
Pretty much everything that was meaningful to me that very first Sunday. The sermons are very thought provoking, the music program, and the beauty of the church itself.

But I now also know about the different ministries and the pastoral leadership. It’s also nice that parishioners recognize that we have a real treasure that needs to be maintained. And it’s a privilege to be surrounded by such spectacular sacred artwork. That’s not found in many churches.

But I also have to say something about the people we’ve met! The most incredible people are here.

What role does faith play for you?
We have no children so it’s vital. Church is one of the best ways we can be involved with a community that might care a little bit about us—and may want to lend a hand if it’s needed.

Of course, it’s a two-way street; we have to be willing to lend a hand when needed, too. That’s what family is all about. So Saint Philip’s is our family. That’s one of the reasons faith is so important to me.

What’s another reason?
It’s the only way I can remain centered in this crazy world right now. It also helps me keep an eye on the future.

I often remind myself our world is not God’s world. We were given free will which means we are free to make mistakes—as much as we do good towards others. It’s incumbent upon us to do what we can given our human restrictions and frailties.

So I remain focused on what lies ahead and trust that things will eventually get better. Yes, there will be much tragedy and sadness and hurt along the way. There’s a lot of God’s plan that I can’t explain or understand. My hope is that someday it will be made clear to me.

How are you involved in the parish?
I serve on the Ministry Endowment Fund Trust (MEFT). I was approached because of my experience with nonprofit finance committees where decisions were made about endowment distributions.

I do what I can but I’m grateful to be part of a committee that includes people like the Chair, Nancy Atherton. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about finance and investments.

What do you do professionally?
I’m a fundraiser for AZPM (the local NPR, PBS, and classical radio station).

What do you enjoy about your job?
Meeting some of the most interesting people and hearing their stories. I’m motivated to help them achieve their vision for making things better or taking a stand.

What’s something you once believed that you no longer do?
Before moving to Tucson I thought it would be easy to find work as a fundraiser. Once we moved here I learned how wrong I was.

Finding work was a very humbling process. It didn’t help that I was interviewing during COVID and many nonprofits had to make the decision not to plan for the future and expand their fundraising efforts—despite the increased need for nonprofits’ work.

What do you think made it so challenging?
Not knowing anyone in Tucson. And the fact that I hadn’t interviewed in 20 years because that’s how long I worked at my last job. My 30 years of experience didn’t mean much during that process.

What helped you persevere?
We needed health insurance! Plus I wasn’t ready to retire. I was confident I could make a contribution to an organization that does something I believe in. And I wanted to return to being part of a well-established team.

What’s one of your core values?
Integrity. If I say I’m going to do something then I do it.

And if I find out later that I can’t do it, then I own up to that. Transparency is important.

What gets better as you get older?
Knowing that I’m not the smartest person in the room and being ok with that. I’ve learned that if I have enough confidence in myself then I don’t have to be in charge.

Are you inspired by anyone?
My husband, John, and how he’s jumped into retirement. He’s a real role model for me. His days are filled with a variety of volunteer activities, and he’s never been happier. I would like that same experience.

I know there are people who work into their 80s but that won’t be me. I will still want to make a contribution, though, so I’m looking ahead and starting to ask myself how I will want to use my new free time.

If you got a do-over for a decision in your life, what would it be? 
I would probably get a different degree.

What was your first degree?
I graduated from the University of Cincinnati (where I grew up) with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.

Why would you change that?
Because it was a girlhood dream to be an actress—despite not being any good at acting. How I wish my parents would have sat me down and pointed out that no matter how many times I auditioned for school plays, I rarely got the part. 

I finally woke up my junior year when I realized I would never find work in the acting/theater field. So when it came time to select electives I chose economics, archeology, history. Anything but stage lighting and makeup.

Let’s just say I graduated with a very liberal arts education!

Is there a place that had an outsized impact on you?
The nonprofit animal welfare organization in Monterrey, California where I spent nearly 20 years of my career.

It was funded by private donations. I didn’t have much experience when I was hired but the CEO saw promise in me. And he quickly became someone I wanted to work with.

He was truly remarkable, and assembled almost from scratch a senior staff that turned what had been a failing organization into an agency that undertook a successful capital campaign to rebuild an aging facility and solidified the finances. And all his ground work has enabled the agency to continue to grow.

I learned the importance of team work and that exceptional leadership like his is really rare. He taught me how to treat employees well while simultaneously challenging them. I never worked so hard in all my life but it was an incredibly gratifying experience. We made a real difference for animals and people.

Those 20 years were some of the best professional experiences of my life. And I still remain in contact with those colleagues.

What’s something you’re proud of?
I’m very proud of what my colleagues and I accomplished at the animal welfare organization. And I appreciate that we did it as a team.

What’s something that challenges you?
Being motivated to take care of myself.

There was a time when I exercised five days a week. Now I count it as a victory if I walk for 30 minutes at lunchtime.

It takes a lot of energy to get back to exercise but that’s a long-term goal once I have more time.

How do you relax and replenish yourself?
I love to read. And John and I subscribe to the symphony and the ballet. Losing myself in the beauty of the artists is so uplifting.

When I have the time I also love to go to Sabino Canyon. I don’t like to use the term “hike” because that makes it sound like I’m doing the Phone Line trail. But just being able to walk for an hour on a relatively easy trail and be surrounded by beauty…that’s the kind of thing I want time to do more often. I’d love to do that five days a week.

What do you like to read?
A lot of different things. Right now I find myself drawn to political books which in this day and age can be a downer.

Many of my book recommendations come from NPR. I’ll listen to an interview with an author and then see if the book is available at the library. I just finished an autobiography by Anthony Hopkins which was an incredible read.

Are you Team Book or Team Kindle?
Team Book; I’m old school.

Is there a decision you made that had an outsized impact on your life?
Marrying John.

His first career in the hotel business meant that he was regularly transferred or recruited. I would be plopped into a new city where I had to reinvent myself professionally time and time again. I wouldn’t have had those experiences without John. When I look back on the life we’ve had together it’s been a remarkable journey.

How did you and John meet?
On a blind date which a mutual friend arranged. I didn’t really want to go but agreed to meet him because he lived in Cleveland, 250 miles away from where I was in Cincinnati. It seemed likely that I would never see him again.

I thought the date would be a disaster but I went as a favor to my friend. She thought that we would be perfect together, and it turns out she was right. We’ll have been married 45 years on October 10.

We dated long-distance for two years and then got married. We were very young; he was 21 and I was 22. The most consecutive time we spent together before getting married was five days.

What’s something you know now that your younger self didn’t?
That I should have started investing money much sooner. To any young people reading this interview: if you work for a company that offers a 401k, skip the Starbucks and other quick indulgences and put that money away—especially if the company offers a matching plan.

Do you have a mantra?
Stay upright and keep moving.

When I think I can’t do something any more I remind myself not to give up, stay upright, and keep moving. And I pray a lot to the blessed virgin—a holdover from my Roman Catholic upbringing.

What’s something you haven’t done that you’d still like to do?
Travel more. I’ve never been to Paris or London, and I’d love to visit Greece.

We’ve been to different cities in Europe but we were there when John worked as a musician and he was responsible for choral group tours. I’d love to go back without being responsible for 50 other people.

Do you have a hobby?
Real estate. It’s very hard for me to drive by an open house and not go in. I’m always curious to see other homes.

Zillow is my addiction. I love to research why a home languishes on the market or why it sold in only five days.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I have a dimple, but I wasn’t born with it.

When I was a little girl, my older siblings were playing ball in our side yard. I wasn’t paying attention, and walked behind my sister just as she swung at the ball. She missed the ball, and had swung so hard that she propelled herself 180 degrees…and smacked me in the side of the face with the bat. Once my cheek stopped swelling, I was left with my dimple.