HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — An Horry County woman who was able to go surfing as her final bucket list item died on Friday morning after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July, her synagogue Temple Emanu-El said.
News13 reported on 75-year-old Susan Rossman’s dream in September.
“It was the most exhilarating experience I’ve ever had,” she said. Rossman connected with Surf Dreams Foundation executive director Phil Jackson, who met up with her on Labor Day for a practice run on the sand before taking to the water.
“That feeling of freedom and not thinking, ‘gee, I’m going to be dying soon,’ ” Rossman said. “Just living in the moment, catching the wave, going over the wave, not caring what my hair looked like or that my bathing suit was almost falling off it. Nothing mattered.”
She caught three waves and rode each one all the way back to the shore.
“I just want to be alive, and being out there made me really feel alive,” Rossman said.
A graveside service for Rossman was held Monday at Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery.