Janet Sue Dyer

Janet Susan “Sue” Dyer, 83, of Saranac Lake and the Dominican Republic, passed away on June 14, 2026.

(Though, knowing Sue, she may have briefly considered not doing so after all.)

Sue was born in Elk City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Edward Malcome Marshall and Oleta McLerran Marshall.

She is survived by her children, Christopher Dyer and his wife Anne, and Kathleen Mixon Dyer and her husband Rocky Nogales; four grandchildren, Kirsten Dyer McNeal (Mike), Rachael Dyer Samm (Dustin), Morgan Dyer Flanagan (Michael), and Christopher Mixon; and two great-grandchildren, Crew McNeal and Collins McNeal. Sue is also survived by her beloved husband, Chuck Pagano, her high school sweetheart, who after forty years apart found each other again. Together they spent the rest of her days sailing and living in the Caribbean.

Sue’s working life was as varied and energetic as she was. She worked at the Lake Placid Charcoal Pit, tied flies for Francis Betters in Wilmington, and led riders on horseback into the Cold River backwoods for John and Marie Fontana of Cold River Ranch.

She went on to serve as Executive Director of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, where her leadership helped define a generation of civic, cultural, and economic activity. Sue later taught at Paul Smith’s College as an Associate Professor of Travel & Tourism and served as Coordinator of Hospitality Management Projects, mentoring students who would go on to careers around the world.

Sue and her children were frequent volunteers in Saranac Lake. She was particularly proud of her work with Barbara Chapin to revive the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival when volunteers and resources were scarce. That first, entirely volunteer-run effort not only turned a profit but secured a committed base for future organizers. Sue went on to create the Society for the Promotion of Winter Carnivals, a 501(c)(3), ensuring the Carnival’s autonomy and longevity.

As a full-time Chamber employee, Sue always credited success to the dedication of the Chamber’s board members and Saranac Lake’s dynamic business community, who worked tirelessly and non-politically for “all things Saranac Lake.”

During her tenure, the Chamber:

• Hosted the Gregg Smith Singers and built the Anderson Band Shell, named for then-Mayor Tony Anderson.
• Partnered with the Saranac Lake Sports Council to stage major sporting events, including the Hanmer Guideboat and Canoe Race.
• Created a group health insurance program for member businesses and employees.
• Marketed Saranac Lake to thousands of prospective visitors.
• Helped establish the Industrial Development Agency, which evolved into the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation.
• Built strong working relationships with the New York State Department of Commerce.

Sue helped bring the first “I Love New York” Festival to Saranac Lake, tying it to Winter Carnival and launching a year-round photographic campaign that promoted the area far beyond the Adirondacks. One commercial famously featured the Bathtub Races, later redefined into an international championship event.

The Chamber was selected to host Olympic Trials for kayaking, leading to the selection of Saranac Lake’s Dr. George Cook as a U.S. team member. In 1983, Sue helped launch the first Adirondack Canoe Classic 90-Miler, now a signature event, chosen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as the premier water event for the Adirondack Park Centennial.

In 1977, the Chamber staged the ALPO International sled dog race, the largest-pursed race in the continental United States. A front-page New York Times photograph of a sled team crossing the Saranac Lake course broke the paper’s long-standing “no photos” tradition.

In the 1980s, as acid rain became a local as well as a national concern, Sue testified before a Congressional committee on its devastating effects on tourism and fishing, supported by data from the Adirondack Council.

Other accomplishments during Sue’s leadership included the creation of the Dewey Mountain Ski Center, which grew into a year-round recreation facility; Top Ridge tours in partnership with the New York State Scholarship Club; and high-profile community events involving Army and Navy recruiters.

In 1985, Saranac Lake Winter Carnival returned to center stage when Kodak Colorama and the New York State Department of Commerce featured the Ice Palace in a massive illuminated display at Grand Central Station, viewed by thousands daily.

Sue also facilitated Gary Trudeau’s design of Winter Carnival buttons, created and promoted the Saranac Lake logo, “The Green Side of the Big Apple”, and championed the idea that New York State was far more than its city.

As an instructor at Paul Smith’s College, Sue secured the Trudeau Lab for Historic Saranac Lake, helped equip forest and culinary programs, and strengthened the student externship program. Under her guidance, students traveled worldwide, from the Kentucky Derby to the Alaskan Railroad and across Europe gaining real-world experience that defined their careers.

Sue Dyer lived boldly, worked tirelessly, and loved deeply. Saranac Lake and everyone fortunate enough to know her is richer for it.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. At Sue’s request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or High Peaks Hospice. Or she preferred you get out enjoy the beautiful Adirondacks and participate in the community and community events. Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories at fortunekeoughfuenralhome.com.