Susan Dushock, a 40-year veteran of the public finance market who was a charter member and former chair of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts, died Dec. 13 following a long illness. She was 65.
Those who knew her described her as driven and compassionate, crediting her with helping to launch the careers of countless muni professionals.
“She was one of a kind, that’s for sure,” said Julie Egan, director of municipal research at Community Capital Management.
Dushock got her start at the now defunct Reynolds Securities during the New York City fiscal crisis, and spent nearly 22 years at Lehman Brothers from 1980-2002, doing municipal research for and specializing in state and local housing bonds. She also notably worked at Digital Assurance Certification, Bank of America and its then subsidiary Columbia Management Group and SunTrust (now Truist).
Egan, who met Dushock when both were working in Charlotte, North Carolina, said the native New Yorker was kind, hardworking, and smart.
“She was a great mentor, a great person, who really, really cared about everybody,” Egan said.
NFMA, of which Dushock was a member from its formation in 1983 and which she chaired in 2014, released a statement praising her contributions.
“Words cannot express the sense of loss those of us who knew her and worked with her feel,” NFMA said. “Her contributions to our field were immense, and working with her was a pleasure. She had a strong spirit and was an inspiration, particularly to the women who followed her path.”
Dushock’s memorial website also filled up with tributes from the muni market.
“Susan was a legend in the municipal finance industry — smart, thoughtful and generous with her time,” wrote former Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board President and CEO Lynnette Kelly. “She took pride in her work and gave so much back to the industry she loved.”
John Mousseau, president, CEO and director of fixed income at Cumberland Advisors, paid tribute to Dushock as both a teacher and a straight shooter.
“You taught many people how to research a bond, gave help to those who needed it, called them as you saw them and never had a cross word for anyone,” Mousseau wrote.
Dushock’s funeral services took place Monday.
