BUILDING COMMUNITY AND MAKING CONNECTIONS

“In many ways, I think of myself as a community builder,” said Mercer Island resident Suzanne Zahr, who has lived here for the past decade. “In being so, I find that my personal and professional lives mesh together sometimes.”

Suzanne, an architect and general contractor, has a storefront in the Town Center that has a front-end art gallery that she described as a vein to the local community. The projects that she design-builds also serve to connect others.

“I contribute to Mercer Island as a literal and figurative community builder,” she said. “That’s just who I am personality-wise. I love bringing people together, whether socially or by building teams professionally.” During the pandemic, Suzanne reached out in support of fellow business owners and working moms trying to make it through.

Suzanne credits her warm feelings of building community to her heritage. She explained, “My Lebanese/Palestinian roots and family upbringing instilled in me a sense of hospitality and cultural diversity. I’ve strived to be a warm and welcoming neighbor, friend and colleague, by hosting art receptions, fundraisers or social gatherings in my home and office/gallery. I also actively look for opportunities as a community leader, to ensure all voices are respected and heard. I will continue to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in our community, ensuring a safe, soulful and loving outcome for us all.”

Suzanne’s quest for community also extends to her love for horses, which she found through her daughter.

A Love of Horses

Sabine, Suzanne’s daughter, is a budding equestrian and has a love of horses. It’s a pastime that Suzanne enjoys too; she likes serving on the board of the Mercer Island Saddle Club as the vice president.

“Through that community, my daughter and I have met some wonderful Islanders. Others got COVID puppies, but we brought home a COVID pony,” smiled Suzanne. For her daughter’s birthday in 2020, she outgrew the horse that she was leasing and Suzanne got her a Welsh pony named MoonPie, a 15-year-old mare.

“She’s the best,” raved Suzanne. “My daughter and I are rolling up our sleeves and doing the heavy lifting horse-ownership, exercising and caring for a horse. It’s been wonderful.”

Suzanne and the Saddle Club contribute to the community, especially raising money to restore a historic cottage on the property. Suzanne shared, “That has been a fun and meaningful way to give back to the community.”

Sabine has been riding since the young age of 7 and loves every second on the back of a horse. She and Suzanne conveniently live near the Saddle Club, which now feels like an extension of their home.

“It’s such a wonderful amenity to have so close to us. It makes it possible to welcome MoonPie into our family,” said Suzanne. She enjoys watching Sabine jump MoonPie, which can be as high as 2 feet 6 inches.

With her years of experience, Sabine is starting to do schooling shows around the area. “At this point, they’re starting to take it on the road. It’s really fun to watch and be a part of Team MoonPie,” said Suzanne.

Building a relationship with MoonPie was the silver lining in the pandemic for this mother and daughter, strengthening their bond in the process. They also credit her trainer, Kristi Lanier, who has been dubbed Auntie Kristi by Sabine. “I call her my horsie-Yoda,” shared Suzanne.

Giving Back

When Suzanne isn’t working, she loves giving back to the community. This year, she joined the board of Seattle Universal Math Museum (SUMM), founded by Tracy Drinkwater.

“That’s been a big focus recently and I like the opportunity to share our love of math. It’s another language that fosters community. It’s really fun to inspire the love of math in younger kids and encourage those who might not get representation in the applied skills of mathematics through STEM and STEAM industries,” shared Suzanne.

Suzanne is always looking for opportunities to strengthen comradery that Islanders share in their close-knit community.

Event Photos of SUMM’s For the Love of Math! exhibit at the SZ Gallery, by Suzanne Zahr

Outside Interests

When not working, Suzanne loves ceramic arts and was part of a ceramics studio with access to pottery wheels, kilns, and other supplies.

“It’s another kind of community-based studio. I really love throwing clay on a wheel and finding ways to literally center myself in that art form, while listening to podcasts or audiobooks. There’s something about it that leaves me feeling relaxed, content, and that everything is right with the world,” she said.

Recently, Suzanne received a building permit approval for a new net-zero energy Passive House on her property. Plans are in the works for a pottery studio in her new garage. Her favorite type of pottery is called naked raku, inspired by stunning works made by Canadian artist, Kathleen Tennock.

“I want to live an inspired life, grounded here in our community. We have that opportunity on Mercer Island, and for that I’m very grateful and excited,” concluded Suzanne.