Susan Saint James' death has brought back the conversation around her selfless act after suffering a major loss.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleSusan Saint James' family is heartbroken by the death of the Emmy-winning actress. She passed away on Monday, October 26, 2026, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Following her demise, her family has shared the kind, selfless act she did after her son, Teddy, passed away in a plane crash.
Susan Saint James was known for her work in McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie. She died at age 80 on October 26, 2026, and now, in a statement to PEOPLE, her family has recalled her selfless act even in moments of grief and loss. For those who are not aware, Susan lost her son Teddy in a plane crash on November 28, 2004.
They revealed that she delivered a eulogy for Teddy, who was 14 when he died, and even in those heartbreaking moments, she managed to keep everyone before her. Susan Saint James' family reflected on how, just days after the crash, she sat down and responded to everyone who had reached out, expressing her gratitude. They said:
"Her defining act: Weeks after losing her youngest son, Teddy, in the November 28, 2004, plane crash, she delivered his eulogy as a note to each of her other children and her husband, giving them words to heal. Even in the deepest grief of her life, she put everyone else first. Days after the crash, she sat with Tim Russert to thank the people who had reached out and to tell them the family was okay."
Susan Saint James' youngest son was traveling abroad when a chartered Canadair CL-600-2A12 Challenger jet crashed during takeoff near the Montrose region amid the light snow and freezing temperatures. The 14-year-old was accompanied by former NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol and older brother Charlie. While Dick, Charlie, and the co-pilot Eric Wicksell survived, Teddy, the pilot Luis Alberto Polanco, and flight attendant Warren Richardson III lost their lives.
In 2006, Susan Saint James appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show alongside her husband, Dick Ebersol, and children Charlie and Willie and opened up about the tragedy. The interview marked their first public family conversation since Teddy's death. During an emotional conversation, Susan got candid about the loss and struggling to part with her son's belongings and said:
"Here’s the bad part...I've never touched his clothes, I've never been able to move his things."
Dick Ebersol, who was injured in the crash, also recalled how his son, Charlie, helped save his life before running to the burning wreckage in search of his younger brother. He recalled, "He not only got me off of the plane...he ran back into the plane, which had 3- or 4-foot flames all around it, to look for his brother one more time." Dick further explained that Charlie struggled with the fear that he hadn't done enough to save his brother.
However, Teddy's body was found beneath the aircraft. Charlie also reflected on what happened, calling the crash "very violent". He recalled the terrifying moments that left him speechless and said, "It’s one of those moments that … they say lasted 15 seconds — it was hours." Nonetheless, despite the loss, Susan Saint James said that the family decided to continue speaking about the tragedy and eventually found a way to cope together.
Her family, in the statement following her death, revealed to the publication that people will always remember her as someone who was generous with her time and energy. They shared that Susan Saint James valued time more than money, and was instinctively drawn to "whoever needed lifting up." The family also recalled Saint James' remarkable ability to connect with everyone she encountered. They were quoted as saying:
"She never met a stranger. Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment, from a fellow board member to the clerk at the shoe store, who usually walked away knowing her entire life story. She brought that same fire and positivity to everything that followed, and never lost it."
What are your thoughts on Susan Saint James' family's revelations?
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