longtime advocate for responsible growth, environmental stewardship, and community development
Susan Schmitt, a pioneering public servant whose leadership helped shape modern Brevard County, died June 4, 2026, at the age of 86. A longtime advocate for responsible growth, environmental stewardship, and community development, Schmitt broke barriers as the first woman elected to the Rockledge City Council and later became only the second woman to serve on the Brevard County Commission.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Susan Schmitt, a pioneering public servant whose leadership helped shape modern Brevard County, died June 4, 2026, at the age of 86.
A longtime advocate for responsible growth, environmental stewardship, and community development, Schmitt broke barriers as the first woman elected to the Rockledge City Council and later became only the second woman to serve on the Brevard County Commission.
She represented District 4 from 1982 to 1994, earning a reputation as a dedicated leader focused on infrastructure, water quality, growth management, and public service.
Schmitt played a key role in several transformative projects across the Space Coast, including the development of Viera, the creation of Space Coast Stadium, and, most notably, the founding of the Brevard Zoo.
Her tireless support for the zoo earned her the affectionate nickname “Zoo Sue,” a title she proudly carried throughout her life.
Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Schmitt moved to Brevard County as a child and graduated from Melbourne High School and Orange Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.
Though trained as a nurse, she worked during the early years of America’s space program before finding her true calling in public service.
Family members remembered Schmitt as a woman deeply committed to her community and country. Her children said she instilled a strong sense of civic duty, service, and leadership that guided both her public and private life.
Schmitt’s legacy lives on in the communities, institutions, and conservation efforts she helped build, as well as in the Brevard Zoo, one of the county’s most beloved attractions and a lasting symbol of her vision and determination.
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and extended family.
Her impact on Brevard County remains visible throughout the Space Coast, where generations will continue to benefit from the vision, leadership, and public service that defined her remarkable life.
Memorial services will be held Friday, June 12, at Florida Memorial, 5950 S. U.S. Highway 1 in Rockledge. Public visitation is scheduled from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a memorial program from 3:30 to 4 p.m.
