Blond bombshell actor, model, singer, and businessperson Suzanne Somers died on October 15, 2023, from complications from breast cancer. She was surrounded by family, including her husband Alan Hamel and son Bruce Somers Jr. She exited this world just one day shy of her 77th birthday.
Alan chose to bury Suzanne in a special pair of Timberland boots he gave her. These were important to the couple because they often started their day together by going on a long hike in the mountains near their Palm Springs or Malibu homes. It was their regular morning routine.
"Suzanne never really had boots designed for hiking on the rocks, so I ordered the Timberland boots,” Alan told People. She loved shoes and had “every Manolo Blahnik ever made.” Alan’s gift meant so much to her.
Alan added some flair to Suzanne’s boots. “[I] made my gift personal by drawing on them in a few words that represented our life to some degree and made them very personal to Suzanne," he explained. This is why he chose to bury her in them.
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According to Alan it would "have been predictable but not very personal" for her to be laid to rest in heels. He wanted something that represented her and their relationship together. Plus, boots are more comfortable.
Alan believes Suzanne would agree. “Every time she put on the Timberlands, she said, ‘I am wearing you, and my boots will keep me safe,’” he recalled. A very sweet sentiment.
Their hikes were quite long, and took several hours. This “always included hiking to the top of one of the mountains, where there was a creek and a large flat rock in the middle of the creek. By the time we got there, which was about a two-hour hike, the rock had been warmed by the morning sun," Alan recalled fondly. "We would have our lunch on the rock and then take a one-hour nap on the rock and then hike back down and go to work.”
Alan and Suzanne first met in 1969 on the set of The Anniversary Game. Alan was the host and Suzanne was working as a prize model. In 1977, they bought their Palm Springs retreat to get away from the busy Los Angeles lifestyle. They were married that same year.
They loved their Palm Springs oasis. "As we rode up the romantic funicular, I said to Alan, 'Let's buy this,' and he said to me, 'Could you please adopt a poker face so we don't have to pay full price?'" Suzanne recalled to People in a 2016 interview. "I was not able to contain my excitement, and we paid more than full price."
Both Suzanne and Alan had children from other relationships and worked to build a blended family. Suzanne’s son Bruce was from her first marriage to Bruce Somers. Alan had two children, Leslie and Stephen, with his first wife Marilyn Hamel. Leslie was the first to make Suzanne and Alan grandparents in 1995. Bruce followed suit shortly after. Suzanne loved being a grandma because "you get to fall in love all over again."
