Friends of professional poker player Susie Zhao are āheartbrokenā over her untimely death and canāt understand how she wound up dead in a Michigan park.
āI can’t fathom this happening to anyone, least of all the always agreeable Susie that I knew,ā Meredith Rogowski, who met Zhao on the school bus in 6th grade, told The Post.
āWe definitely want Susie to be remembered for the bold and carefree way she lived her life not her tršagic end.ā
Zhao, 33, who went by Susie Q in the poker world, was found dead and ābadly burnedā on July 13 in a parking lot near Pontiacš Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County, police said.
Theyāre investigating whether her profession as a poker player, which earned her at least $224,671 since 2009, had anything to do with her death, according to cops and an online poker database.
Rogowski said eꦬven at just ten-years-old, Zhao exuded āan adventurous spirit and fearlessly pursued anything she wantedą² in this world.ā
āShe had the intelligencš e and charisma to succeed at whatever she chose to do,ā the friend went on.
āApart from her high-stakes jet-setter persona, she was always a loyal andꩵ supportive friend. She meant so much to us. We are heartbroken.ā
The last time the two spoke was a few weeks ago over Instagram messenger where Zhao provided few details š„on her recent move back to Michigan from Los Angeles.
ā[She] saišÆd she was exploring new opportunities, mentioned some poker tournaments out of state,ā Rogowski said.
āShe was, as usual, very vagueš about what she was up to in Michigan.ā
A few years ago, the childhšood pal went to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to visit Zhao in her natural habitat.
āShe was so exš§cited to share her world with her childhood friends,ā Rogowski, whš¦o now lives in Japan, said.
āShe showed us all the classic LA spots. Went to the Getty, hiking in Runyon canyon, the Hollywood improv, UCB, shopping in Melrose. Susie loved all of the good things in this world, laughing, dź¦ancing, good food, travel, or just keeping ią¦t low key with her good friends.ā
Another childhooš ·d friend, Kinga Wierzbicka, took to Facebook to honor Zhaoās memļ·½ory.
āWith tears in my eyes and grief in my heart, I share one of the hardāest pieces of news I never thought I would have to share,ā Wierzš¬bicka wrote in an emotional post.
āMy beautiful, intelligent, vibrant, and exuberant friend Susie left this world far too soon. I was not ready to say goodbye, none of us were, as she spread love and happiness to alšl who were lucky to encounter her in theiļ·½r lives.ā
The friend of 22 years said their relationship blossomed from adoleāscence into adulthood āseamlesslyā and like the closest of friends, it didnāt matter how much time they spent apart, āwe would always bounce back to where we were while never skipāping a beat.ā
āHer aura and memory will forever be with me. I will never forget her. And I know all whoļ·½ knew and loved her feel the same,ā the friend cš±ontinued.
āSusie was always Susie. She was undeniably and apologetically herself. Always. My girl – Susie Q.ā