YMCA Youth and Government and the YMCA Movement nationwide lost one of its brightest stars this week with the passing of Suzanne Mabie, of Austin, of complications stemming from her courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

Although officially retired from the Y since 2019, Suzanne remained active with Youth and Government helping to plan the recent Junior YG State Conference in January, 2023, as well as traveling last fall to Blue Ridge, North Carolina, where she was inducted into the YMCAs of the Southeast Hall of Fame. 

In a YMCA career that spanned nearly 40 years, Suzanne epitomized the work of a Y servant-leader. She began her career as a lifeguard and swim instructor in Victoria, Texas, before becoming an Executive Director at Ys in Louisiana and Texas. Suzanne always held a passion for leadership development, which led to her tenure as State Youth and Government Director in Texas, Louisiana and Indiana. She also served as the Austin-area Youth and Government Director, State YG board member, YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) trainer, and decades-long leader at the Y’s Conference on National Affairs, Christian Values Conference, and Youth Governors conferences. 

Suzanne was a consistent, calming force and guiding light for YG, helping steward the program management transition from Y-USA to the Houston Y, from Houston to Dallas, and from Dallas to Austin. 

In Austin, Suzanne was Region 2 District Director herself before training current state director Missy Garcia and current District 2 Director Matt Wilson in what it takes to be a servant leader, protector of the program, and champion for teens. Even in the last few years when her health was not as strong, she attended every workday, every Zoom meeting, and every planning session gracefully reminding and coaching colleagues in the best way to execute a conference, serve teens, recognize history, and support democracy. 

In 2010, she won the Bill Theiss award for outstanding leadership as a Y staff member for the Texas Youth and Government program. In 2022, she won the John Kaempf award for outstanding leadership as a Y volunteer for the Texas Youth and Government program – making her the only person in the program’s history to win both. The third Texas YG signature award – for Junior Youth and Government leadership – is named after Suzanne. To say that she was a Youth and Government icon is a tremendous understatement. 

While the YG program lost its biggest champion, her mark on the program is permanent. We will always cherish her patience, dedication, thoroughness, and spirit and always remember her willingness to serve everyone. We are all better from having the opportunity to be in her presence. 

She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Ed, and her two sons Charles and Lucas Leake, daughters-in-law Kayla Lyn Gant and Lexy Stecker Leake, and grandson Carter Austin Robert Leake. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be given in her name to a YMCA Youth and Government chapter or a chapter of the ALS Association. A celebration of Suzanne’s life is being planned and will be announced at a later date.