Susan Hager, 63; Advocate for Female Business Owners

Susan Kulka Hager was born in Washington, the oldest of seven children, and grew up in Owensboro, Ky. She received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Brescia College in Owensboro in 1966 and became a VISTA volunteer in White Mountain, Alaska, starting a newspaper and a Head Start program there.

Returning to Washington in 1967, Mrs. Hager became a recruiter for VISTA and the Peace Corps. She later was a program analyst for the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity and program director for the National Center for Voluntary Action.

Mrs. Hager was active in numerous national and local organizations. She served as president of National Small Business United (now the National Small Business Association), chaired the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Small Business Advisory Council and was on the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

After the Lab School of Washington engaged Hager Sharp to help with fundraising, Mrs. Hager made the school one of her causes. She was appointed to the board of trustees and served as chair and president for more than a decade.

Under her leadership, the school completed a capital campaign to dramatically improve its facilities to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities. The school also added a campus in Baltimore.

In 2001, Mrs. Hager's activities were sidelined for a while when she needed a kidney transplant. When no family member could provide a donor match, the firm's administrator volunteered.

"She's the best boss I ever had, and I kind of wanted to keep her around for a while," Karen Cassiday had said.

Among her honors, Mrs. Hager was inducted into the Public Relations Society of America's National Capital Chapter Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Women's Hall of Fame of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2000.

In addition to her daughter, of Philadelphia, survivors include her husband of 40 years, Eric Hager of Washington; a sister; four brothers; and two grandchildren.