Sadie M. Eskey
Sadie M. Eskey, known to many as Sue, passed from this world on April joh30, 2007. Sue lived her life fully and possessed a sharp and curious mind, an untamed passion for life, and the humanity that spoke of her true nature. She was a woman of both words and actions. Those whose lives she touched found a warm and caring person, always ready to help, as well as a great listener and an even better storyteller.
Sue was born and raised in Pecatonica, Ill., the youngest of three daughters to David and Nellie Unger. In school she was an Honor Classman, Cheer Leader, played drums in the band, sang alto in the Girls Glee Club and developed a life long enjoyment for reading books. When our country went to war in 1941, Sue felt compelled to volunteer, and joined one of the women's auxiliary groups, the Navy WAVES. After enlisting, Sue arrived in Dayton, Ohio to train at "Sugar Camp", becoming a part of a rather elite group which were assigned to "Project Ultra," the second most top-secret project of World War II, and an assignment she surely had never anticipated. Sue took a lifetime vow of secrecy, swearing that she would never, under any circumstances, speak of her work.
After the war, she married her true love, Charles W. Eskey, and together adopted their son, Jonathan. Her courage and strength never failed her, after her husband's death, a few years after the Korean War, she returned to school, graduating from Long Beach State with a degree in Library Science. She took her family to Arizona in 1961, where she worked at the Carnegie Library in Prescott. They moved to the Phoenix area in 1964, where she continued to raise her son and work full time. She received her Master's Degree in Education and Library Science from Arizona State University and enjoyed a wonderful career as a high school librarian for 23 years. As an educator and librarian, she taught her students a love for reading and the principle of lifelong learning.
Her vow of secrecy was still intact 50 years later when, touring the Smithsonian in Washington DC, her secret was in plain sight. On top of that, she saw herself in the pictures. Her initial shock turned into the realization that the project must have been declassified and the story could now be told. And WHAT a story! That secret she was sworn to keep was the BOMBE, a decoding machine that was a forerunner of the modern computer, which contributed to United States breaking the German enigma code, thus saving countless lives. And with that, Sue began sharing her long-secret history. She was invited as a guest lecturer, featured in local parades, and quoted in several books. Sue was active in the WAVES National, Cactus WAVES organizations, a member of the Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, and enjoyed Mah Jongg, world travel, gardening and the birds that visited her garden.
Sue is survived by her son Jonathan; sister Alta Larsen; grandchildren Eric, Lisa, Ian, and Nathan; and great-grandchildren Emma, Elexis, and Kaiya. In addition, her extended family and friends were all precious to her. Our dearest mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and teacher you inspired love and happiness, developed friends and created a family. All of her memories are with us all, yet her presence will be missed. Memorial Services and Inurnment will be held at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 19, 2007 at the Mariposa Gardens Chapel in Mesa, Arizona, with Rev. Lone Jensen officiating. In lieu of flowers, we ask you to make donations, in honor of Sue, to your local Library, or Veterans Organization or Charity of your choice
Published in The Arizona Republic on 5/19/2007.
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