Introduction
Some stories don’t begin on a stage or under the glow of a spotlight. They begin in the hallways of a Brooklyn high school, between two teenagers who had no idea what life had in store for them. Susan Deixler is one of those stories. She married a young, ambitious boy named Barry Manilow in 1964—long before the world knew his name, long before the Grammys and the sold-out arenas, long before “Mandy” and “Copacabana” became household melodies.
Their marriage was brief. But Susan’s story? That lasted a lifetime. And it turns out, it’s far more interesting, far more inspiring, and far more meaningful than most people realize.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Susan Deixler |
| Date of Birth | August 1944 |
| Age | 81 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former Care Manager, Holistic Healer, Community Leader |
| Parents | Al Deixler and Nettie/Natasha Deixler |
| Siblings | Not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Two—Pauline (daughter, lawyer) and Danny (son, builder and musician) |
| Marital Status | Divorced; never remarried |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $500,000–$1 million |
| Social Media | No known public accounts |
Early Life and Family: A Brooklyn Beginning
Susan Deixler was born in August 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, to Al Deixler and Nettie (sometimes recorded as Natasha) Deixler. She grew up in a warm, close-knit household during a time when Brooklyn was a vibrant tapestry of cultures, dreams, and working-class ambition. The 1940s and 1950s were decades of transformation in New York, and Susan’s upbringing in that lively, diverse environment shaped her into someone grounded, compassionate, and deeply community-minded.
From an early age, Susan showed remarkable character. She was curious, sociable, and genuinely kind to everyone around her. These weren’t just qualities that made her popular—they were the foundation of a life dedicated to service, healing, and quiet dignity.
At Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, Susan flourished. She wasn’t just another face in the crowd—she was a leader. In her senior year, she served as student government president. She participated in the chorus, joined the Chemistry Squad, was active in the Bowling Club, and was a swimmer. She also served on the Orientation Committee and the City and Boro Council.
A former classmate remembered the young brunette as “bubbly,” adding, “There was no one who did not like Susan”. That single sentence tells you everything about who she was—and, in many ways, who she still is. She was the kind of person who made others feel seen, valued, and welcome.
It was also at Eastern District High School that Susan met a shy, reserved young man named Barry Manilow. He was a year ahead of her, with a small group of confidants and a burning passion for music. She, on the other hand, was popular, outgoing, and had taken piano lessons herself. When they began dating in her junior year, no one could have predicted the whirlwind that would follow—or the quiet, remarkable life Susan would build after the storm passed.
The Marriage: Young Love and Hard Choices
Barry Manilow and Susan Deixler’s love story reads like something from a teen romantic movie—the shy musician and the popular, radiant girl who believed in him. But real life is rarely as simple as the movies.
The young couple’s families clashed from the very beginning. The Deixlers wanted a grand, traditional wedding for their daughter, but Barry’s mother, Edna Manilow, and stepfather, Willie Murphy, opposed this over financial concerns. The tension between the two families set the stage for what would become a complicated and deeply unconventional marriage.
In 1964, at just 19 years old, Susan and Barry—then 20—decided to elope. During their lunch break, they married in a judge’s chambers at City Hall. But the Deixlers did not recognize the civil ceremony. They refused to let the newlyweds move in together until a rabbi solemnized the union.
So, the couple went through a second ceremony in a rabbi’s office, this time with both sets of parents in attendance. The following week, the Deixlers threw an extravagant wedding reception—but did not invite Barry’s side of the family, save for his parents, who declined to attend out of protest. The newlyweds were compelled to retake their vows for a third time. Then, the following weekend, the Murphys hosted their own reception and declined to invite Susan’s side. All in all, the young couple went through the wedding ceremony four times.
It was a chaotic beginning, and the strain only grew from there. Barry was consumed by his music. He was out every night, playing, writing, and chasing what he would later describe as a “wondrous musical adventure”. In his 1987 autobiography, he admitted he couldn’t be a “proper husband” because he was away every night making music. He later told PEOPLE magazine: “I wasn’t ready to settle down. We had a very nice marriage, it was great, but I was away every night making music as a young musician would be and it just, it wasn’t good for me and it wasn’t good for her”.
Susan, left at home waiting for her young husband while he pursued his dreams, grew increasingly disgruntled. The marriage fell apart within approximately 18 months. Susan filed for an annulment, citing fraud on Barry’s part. The annulment was finalized in 1966.
In his autobiography Sweet Life, Barry described Susan as “the perfect wife” and recalled how their friends thought they were rushing things. He also described her as “adorable, small with great legs and a voluptuous figure” with “jet-black hair, dark brown eyes, and a smile that lit up the room”. But even the most glowing words couldn’t undo the reality of a marriage that simply wasn’t meant to be.
Career and Calling: A Life of Service
What happened next is perhaps the most inspiring chapter of Susan Deixler’s story. She didn’t let a failed marriage define her. She didn’t chase fame or trade on her association with a rising star. Instead, she quietly stepped away from public life and built something far more meaningful—a career dedicated to healing, service, and community.
After her marriage ended, Susan launched her professional life as a secretary in New York. But this job was just an entry point. She later transitioned into nursing and alternative healing, pursuing a career in holistic healing. These career shifts weren’t random—they reflected who Susan truly was: someone drawn to helping others, not chasing headlines.
Susan eventually moved to California, settling in West Marin, where she would live for over 50 years. It was there that she found her true calling. She joined West Marin Senior Services (WMSS), initially as a volunteer while helping an aging neighbor. That volunteer work became the foundation of a decades-long career in elder care.
For over 30 years, Susan served as a Senior Care Manager at WMSS. She didn’t just manage cases—she transformed lives. She established the Senior Swim Program at Heart’s Desire Beach, giving local seniors a way to stay active, healthy, and connected. She also founded a community food pantry to ensure that local seniors had access to fresh, high-protein food.
She was often described as a “West Marin Original”—a term of deep respect and affection for someone who had become an irreplaceable part of the community’s fabric. Her work was recognized by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, which commended and honored her retirement for her “heartfelt service and her many years of exemplary good works for our community”.
Beyond her work with seniors, Susan also served as an Exam Site Manager for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and as a Conference Coordinator for the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. These roles reflected her ongoing commitment to holistic healing and alternative medicine—fields she had embraced after her nursing career.
Personal Life: Family, Forgiveness, and Quiet Dignity
After her annulment from Barry Manilow, Susan never remarried. But she didn’t remain alone. She became a mother to two children: a daughter named Pauline and a son named Danny. Pauline grew up to become a lawyer, while Danny became a builder and musician. Susan is also a grandmother.
She raised her children away from the glare of publicity, giving them a stable, loving, and private upbringing. In many ways, the life she built for herself and her family was the polar opposite of the chaotic, high-stakes world she had briefly inhabited as a young bride.
When news broke in 2014 that Barry Manilow had married his longtime partner and manager, Garry Kief, the media came knocking on Susan’s door. She could have ignored them. She could have stayed silent. Instead, she chose grace.
Susan told the Daily Mail Online: “I wish him well. I’m happy for him. I’m glad that he’s found love and happiness”. When pressed further, she added: “What happened between us, our relationship, is ancient history and I don’t want to dig back into ancient history. It was 50 years ago. You have to remember that I’m not a celebrity. I have children, a life… all that was a long time ago. I’m a private person but I’m happy for him. I really am”.
Those words reveal the core of Susan Deixler’s character: forgiveness, dignity, and an unshakable commitment to moving forward rather than looking back. She didn’t harbor bitterness. She didn’t seek revenge or public sympathy. She simply acknowledged the past, wished her ex-husband well, and returned to her quiet, meaningful life.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Susan Deixler’s estimated net worth is approximately $500,000 to $1 million. Unlike many people associated with celebrity, Susan did not leverage her connection to Barry Manilow for financial gain. Instead, she built her wealth through decades of dedicated work in elder care, holistic healing, and community service.
Her primary income sources included her long tenure as Senior Care Manager at West Marin Senior Services, as well as her roles with various acupuncture and Oriental medicine certification organizations. Her lifestyle has always been modest and private—a reflection of her values rather than any lack of means.
It’s worth noting that Susan did not receive any significant financial settlement from her annulment. The marriage was brief, and the annulment—rather than a divorce—meant that the union was essentially treated as if it had never legally existed. Susan walked away from that chapter of her life not with a fortune, but with something far more valuable: her integrity, her independence, and the freedom to build a life on her own terms.
Social Media and Public Presence
Susan Deixler has no known public social media accounts. In an era when many people—even private individuals—maintain at least a minimal online presence, Susan has remained steadfastly offline. She does not share her life on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
This is not an oversight. It’s a deliberate choice. Susan has consistently described herself as a private person. She has no interest in fame, attention, or the validation of strangers. Her life is lived in the real world—in her community, with her family, and through her work. For Susan, the quiet satisfaction of a life well-lived has always been more than enough.
Recent Updates and Future Goals
In 2024, at the age of 79, Susan Deixler retired from her caregiving service. After more than 30 years of serving the seniors of West Marin, she stepped down from her role as Senior Care Manager. Her retirement was marked by recognition from the Marin County Board of Supervisors, which honored her decades of “exemplary good works” and heartfelt service.
As of 2026, Susan is approximately 81 years old. She continues to live a quiet life in California, spending time with her children and grandchildren. She has not announced any future projects or public endeavors—and given her lifelong preference for privacy, it’s unlikely she ever will.
But that doesn’t mean her story is over. Susan’s legacy is not measured in headlines or awards. It’s measured in the lives she touched, the seniors she served, the community she strengthened, and the family she raised. Her influence endures not through fame, but through the quiet, steady impact of a life dedicated to others.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Quiet Strength
Susan Deixler’s story is not the story of a celebrity’s ex-wife. It is the story of a woman who faced heartbreak and disappointment and chose not to be defined by them. It is the story of someone who walked away from the spotlight—not out of bitterness, but out of a clear-eyed understanding of what truly mattered.
She could have clung to her connection to Barry Manilow. She could have written a memoir, sold her story to the tabloids, or traded on her brief moment in the public eye. She did none of those things. Instead, she built a career in holistic healing and elder care, spending over three decades serving the seniors of West Marin. She raised two children, became a grandmother, and lived a life of quiet purpose.
When the media came calling after Barry’s marriage to Garry Kief, Susan didn’t lash out or play the victim. She simply said: “I’m happy for him. I really am”. That single sentence—so simple, so generous—captures the essence of who Susan Deixler is.
As Susan Deixler continues to live out her retirement in quiet dignity, her story stands as a powerful reminder that resilience, grace, and purpose are the true measures of a life well-lived. She didn’t need a stage to make an impact. She didn’t need fame to leave a legacy. She just needed to be herself—and that, in the end, was more than enough.
Read this to: Jordan Tarlow: The Guitarist Who Chose Music Over Fame
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler is an American former care manager and holistic healer, best known as the first wife of legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow. They were high school sweethearts who married in 1964 and separated approximately one year later. Beyond her brief marriage to Manilow, Susan is recognized for her decades of dedicated community service in West Marin, California, where she served as a Senior Care Manager for over 30 years.
2. How old is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler was born in August 1944, making her approximately 81 years old as of 2026.
3. Where was Susan Deixler born?
Susan Deixler was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
4. Who were Susan Deixler’s parents?
Her parents were Al Deixler and Nettie (also referred to as Natasha) Deixler.
5. Did Susan Deixler have children with Barry Manilow?
No, Susan and Barry did not have any children together during their brief marriage. However, Susan later had two children—a daughter named Pauline and a son named Danny—from relationships after her annulment.
6. Why did Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow divorce?
The couple’s marriage was annulled in 1966. Barry has stated that he wasn’t ready to settle down and was consumed by his music career, often being away every night. Susan filed for annulment, citing fraud.
7. Did Susan Deixler ever remarry?
No, Susan never remarried after her annulment from Barry Manilow.
8. What is Susan Deixler’s net worth?
Susan Deixler’s estimated net worth is approximately $500,000 to $1 million, accumulated through her long career in elder care, holistic healing, and community service.
9. What does Susan Deixler do for a living?
Susan worked as a Senior Care Manager at West Marin Senior Services for over 30 years. She also worked in holistic healing and served in various roles with acupuncture and Oriental medicine certification organizations. She retired in 2024.
10. Is Susan Deixler on social media?
No, Susan Deixler has no known public social media accounts. She has always described herself as a private person and has deliberately stayed out of the public eye.
11. Does Susan Deixler have any grandchildren?
Yes, according to her Facebook profile, Susan is a grandmother.
12. Where does Susan Deixler live?
Susan has lived in West Marin, California, for over 50 years. She resides in a small town in the area.
13. What did Susan Deixler say about Barry Manilow’s marriage to Garry Kief?
When asked about Barry’s 2014 marriage to his longtime partner Garry Kief, Susan responded with grace and goodwill: “I wish him well. I’m happy for him. I’m glad that he’s found love and happiness”. She described their relationship as “ancient history” and emphasized that she is a private person.
14. What awards or recognition has Susan Deixler received?
Susan was honored by the Marin County Board of Supervisors for her “heartfelt service and her many years of exemplary good works for our community” upon her retirement. She is often described as a “West Marin Original” for her decades of commitment to elder care and community service.
15. What is Susan Deixler’s educational background?
Susan graduated from Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, where she was student government president and participated in various extracurricular activities. Her senior yearbook indicated she intended to study nursing at Miami University.
About the Author
