Susan Neidlinger McLane, 75, died peacefully in her sleep of Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, at the Havenwood nursing home in Concord.

Born on Sept. 28, 1929, in Boston, McLane served in the New Hampshire Legislature for 25 years, first as a state representative and later as a senator. She advocated for the mentally ill, for welfare mothers, for dignity in dying. She fought to save the environment, preserving lakes and protecting wildlife. A tireless advocate for women in politics, raising funds and recruiting candidates, she made a difference in the lives of others.

A 1947 graduate of Hanover High School, she matriculated at Mount Holyoke College. In 1948, she married Malcolm McLane of Manchester and moved to Oxford, England, where Malcolm was a Rhodes scholar. She had lived in Concord since 1952, when Malcolm graduated from Harvard Law School.

Inspired by the New Hampshire League of Women Voters, she devoted her career in public service to improving the quality of life in New Hampshire. She represented Concord in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1969 to 1980, serving as chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee. In 1980, she was narrowly defeated in a bid for Congress. In 1981, she attended the Kennedy School for Government at Harvard University. From 1982 to 1994, she served in the New Hampshire Senate, rising to the Senate leadership in 1992.

She leaves her husband of 56 years, Malcolm McLane; three daughters, Robin McLane of Portsmouth and her daughter, Marion Read; Debbie Carter of Norwich, Vt., her husband, Peter Carter, and their daughters, Sasha, Ashley, Maile and Laurel Carter; and Ann McLane Kuster of Hopkinton, her husband, Brad Kuster, and their sons, Zach and Travis Kuster; two sons, Donald McLane of Twisp, Wash., his wife, Lois Garland, and their daughters, Karissa and Abi McLane, and son, Erik McLane; and Alan McLane of Jackson, his wife, Alice McLane, and their daughters, Laura and Carrie McLane; her cousin, Alan Hall of Hopkinton; her sisters-in-law, Lilla McLane-Bradley and Mary McLane; her brothers-in-law,Charles McLane and Bob Kilmarx; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, former Dartmouth College Dean Lloyd K. Neidlinger and Marion Walker Neidlinger; her sister, former Rhode Island legislator Mary Neidlinger Kilmarx; and her identical twin sister, 1952 Olympic ski racer and California environmental advocate Sally Neidlinger Hudson.

An avid birder with a lifelong devotion to protecting the environment and inspiring children to appreciate the natural world, she served as president of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire. She sponsored the Shoreland Protection Act as well as legislation to protect endangered species, including the Karner blue butterfly and her favorite flower, the showy ladyslipper.

An inspired advocate for the disadvantaged, she sponsored legislation to require insurance coverage for mental health care that ultimately led to thousands of patients leaving the New Hampshire Hospital to return to live and work in their communities with support from the community mental health centers. She served on the board of Concord Hospital and as honorary chairwoman of the recent capital campaign for the Riverbend Community Mental Health Center.

Devoted to the cause of equal opportunity and reproductive rights for women, she served for many years on the national board of NARAL/Pro-Choice America. A champion for women in politics, she raised money and served on the boards of the Women's Campaign Fund and the National Women's Political Caucus in Washington, D.C.

The 1948 Eastern Women's ski champion and 1970 "Fastest Woman over 40" in the national NASTAR ski championships, she was a founding member and served on the board of the New England Ski Museum in Franconia.

A former president of the World Affairs Council, she traveled with official delegations to Japan, Korea and South Africa. She enjoyed many trips with her family. In 1994, she traveled around the world with her husband.

She was a gourmet cook, whose greatest joy was entertaining family and friends in the summer at Newfound Lake and in the winter in the White Mountains.

A passionate advocate for dignity in dying, she sponsored legislation to license hospice care and to legalize the living will and durable health care power of attorney. Her final cause was facing Alzheimer's disease with grace and courage, writing a book with her daughter, Ann, titled The Last Dance: Facing Alzheimer's with Love and Laughter. She died in peace with hospice care surrounded by the love of her family.

A memorial service will be held today at 4 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 21 Centre St., Concord. The Rev. David Jones, minister, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord 03301; Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, 99 Hanover St., Manchester 03105; or the Women's Fund of New Hampshire, 46 S. Main St., Concord 03301.

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