Suzette Qualizza Scholtes of Overland Park, Kansas (74) passed away the night of September 23rd. She was surrounded by her family that meant so much to her.
She was a loving sister, wife, mother, partner, aunt, and grandmother. Suzette was born in Evergreen Park, Illinois, the daughter of Irvin and Mary Qualizza. When her father decided to leave the general contracting business in Chicago, he bought a farm in Bucyrus, Kansas, where the family of eight children were raised. As a child, Suzette was active in 4H club, an avid reader and was a high school cheerleader.
Later she graduated from Sacred Heart College in Wichita, Kansas, with a degree in English. She worked for the Wichita-Eagle-Beacon for some time before moving home to Kansas City.
Suzette's outgoing and contagious personality combined with her skills as a writer led her to an early career in public relations. She quickly rose from rookie PR account executive to earning multiple Public Relations Society of America awards. Suzette had a gift for arranging her client's stories and interviews to appear in local, regional and national newspapers, magazines and television platforms. She would go on to serve as Public Relations Director for Bernstein Rein Advertising,Travis Walz Advertising and Barkley Evergreen Advertising working with such clients as McDonalds, Coca Cola, Worlds of Fun and Westin International.
She met Rusty Scholtes during her time at Travis Walz Advertising. They were married in 1979 and started a family, creating a happy home in Olathe and Overland Park, Kansas.
Her love for writing evolved into a career change to freelance writing in the Health and Wellness category. Suzette's articles and columns on the subject appeared in numerous regional and national industry publications, including Women’s World. It was through Health and Wellness research and writing that she was drawn to Yoga.
Yoga had little presence in the Kansas City area at the time. After becoming a student, then later a Certified Yoga Instructor, she opened The Yoga Studio of Johnson County in 1984. Suzette not only introduced students to Yoga as an instructor, but continued her studies and advanced her expertise and accreditation. This led to the Johnson County Yoga Studio evolving into the Johnson County School of Therapeutics.
Suzette brought in nationally-known Yoga instructors to the Yoga school for seminars, exposing students to various advanced methods. Suzette's Yoga School of Therapeutics was also recognized with a grant for a successful clinical trial working with Parkinson's patients at the University of Kansas Health System to relieve their symptoms.
Suzette brought the healing benefits of Yoga to hundreds of people over the years, as well as training and certifying numerous future Yoga instructors. Her pioneering efforts are continuing to be felt today and will into the future.
Suzette retired from teaching in 2022.
Suzette met John Barker in 1997. They’ve been life partners for over 20 years and during that time, John has never left her side.
Those that knew Suzette were drawn to her natural beauty and infectious laughter which she reciprocated with equal kindness and love. She was a powerful force of light and shared that with those around her.
Ms. Scholtes is survived by her partner, John Barker. Her beloved son, Justin Scholtes (Lauren Scholtes), and her grandchildren Reid Scholtes and Catherine Scholtes.
A visitation, funeral mass, and celebration of life will be held at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bucyrus, Kansas, on Thursday, October 3rd. 22779 Metcalf Rd., Bucyrus, KS 66013. Visitation begins at 10 am with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11 am.
The family asks that any charitable donations in honor of Suzette be submitted to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care. 9001 State Line Road, Ste 300, Kansas City Missouri, 64114-9918 or at kchospice.org.
