Suzanne Geimer RN, CEN, MICN

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Suzanne Geimer Quick Facts

Main Areas: Communicating with teens through music. Chemical Dependency and Emergency Nursing.
Career Focus: Singer/Songwriter/Performer/Author/RN
Affiliation: Special Angel Inc.

Clarity, simplicity, honesty, a quiet strength borne from conquering personal adversity, an unshakable belief in being true to one’s self and never giving up are the driving forces behind country singer, songwriter and performer Suzanne Geimer’s music and life. As a wife, mother, nurse and entertainer Suzanne draws on these diverse experiences to communicate in a uniquely powerful and positive way with her audiences. As President and co-founder of Special Angel Inc., Suzanne has built a highly successful program, along with her daughter Kelly, that is now on the verge of expanding to other areas of the country. Using music to help troubled teens and collaborating with the agencies that assist them, the mother-daughter duo and the Special Angel Band have spent many years developing the program and seeing firsthand the power of music to bypass all barriers to communication. Inspired by the past, they dedicate their music to helping the youth of today.

The oldest of seven children, Suzanne spent her childhood and teen years entertaining her extended family in Augusta, Georgia and writing songs whenever time allowed. The early years of her marriage were spent on Hilton Head Island, S.C. She perfected her songwriting skills with her mentor Peter McCann during many trips to Nashville over the years. She is a member of ASCAP.

Suzanne’s musical dreams and passion for helping others remained with her and became the impetus for helping her daughter when she reached the rebellious teen years. She was convinced that music provided a non-threatening environment for discussion and growth. She found that singing and writing songs together improved the relationship with her daughter Kelly and soon they were performing together. When the family moved to Beverly Hills in 1990, Suzanne called Dr. Lois Lee at the Children of the Night shelter in Van Nuys and asked if they could come and share their mother – daughter story and sing some of their original songs. The staff was amazed at the positive reaction of the kids at that visit and encouraged the duo to return on a regular basis. This was the beginning of The Special Angel Project. Suzanne began adding other agencies to the list and in 1994 Special Angel Inc. was incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. A special grant from The Elton John AIDS Foundation provided the opportunity to add programs at additional agencies on a regular basis. A list of the many organizations the group has worked with can be found on their website. Suzanne continues to work as an RN part time in the Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This gives her added insight regarding the problems facing young people and families today and drives her desire to educate on the many opportunities available to those in need of assistance. She has found that music is a perfect vehicle to establish a meaningful dialogue in an unthreatening manner that reaches teens in trouble.

Through the years of their growth, Suzanne and her daughter Kelly have continued to work collaboratively with agencies aiding troubled youth. In 1995 Jon Walmsley joined the group as lead guitarist and many recognized him as John Boy’s brother Jason from the popular TV series The Waltons. Jon has remained with the group and now serves as band leader and liaison to other musicians interested in getting involved in the project.

Suzanne and Kelly have been featured in local and nationally syndicated television and press stories about their work using music to help troubled teens and families. The impact of their work is validated by the comments they write in program evaluations handed out after each Special Angel visit. The mother daughter duo has recently written a book about their story and The Special Angel Project which includes many of the actual comments from the teens they have worked with over the years. Some Day It Will Matter has received very positive feedback and can be purchased on the Special Angel web site. www.specialangel.org

A Special Angel Inc. YouTube Channel is coming soon. The work in the Greater Los Angeles area continues with support from The Friars Charitable Foundation, The Johnny Carson Foundation in addition to individual donors. Programs are now starting in Augusta, Georgia with support from an anonymous donor.