Susan Hirt Hagen, daughter of Erie Insurance founder H.O. Hirt has died at age 79.  Those close to her say she was not in good health and died peacefully at the Cleveland Clinic, surrounded by family. 

As heir to the Erie Insurance fortune, Forbes Magazine placed her at #894 on their 2015 list of billionaires, with a net worth of 1.9 billion dollars. But the Erie community is remembering her worth in a much much different way.   In a written statement, Erie Insurance CEO Terry Cavanaugh remembered her as a strong business woman who continued to shape her father's vision for the company, serving on the board for 34 years, longer than any other board member. "As daughter of our founder and longest serving board member Susan had an indelible influence in shaping Erie Insurance," Cavanaugh said.  "And beyond that her philanthropic spirit has touched multiple local, state and national non profit organizations."


Hirt Hagen is a past winner of  the Erie Community Foundation Edward Doll Award, its highest honor for community service. She served on the foundation board for a decade.  In fact, the board room at the foundation itself is named for Susan Hirt Hagen, because she gave  the money to renovate the headquarters. Foundation President Mike Batchelor told us when making grant decisions, sitting around that board table, they often ask the question, "What would Susie do."  He said her passing is a big loss, because of her generosity.  "Her passion was for those in poverty," Batchelor said.  "She tried to make her gifts to help people most in need, she really felt that deep in her soul."

In SafeNet's Big Backyard, an inner city garden and play space, an outdoor pavilion also bears her name because she cared about empowering women and set the pace for two major capital campaigns to help the victims of domestic violence.  SafeNet Executive Director Linda King said, "The gifts she gave really lifted the campaigns and we were so grateful to have her name behind it, and that's why we named the Big Back Yard and this building for her," said King.