KDHamptons

KDHamptons: How long have you been coming to the Hamptons? Why do you love it so much?

Susan Rockefeller: I grew up spending the summers in East Hampton with my family, back when going to the Hamptons was simply referred to as going to “Long Island.” Some of my favorite memories from out here are of time spent at the beach, feeling the sun and salt on my body and diving into the waves. I have always loved the Hamptons for their natural wonders from the gorgeous beaches to the fresh local farms. While some people come to the Hamptons for the social scene, and the parties I come here for the beautiful surroundings, to spend quality time with my family and to give my children the same wonderful experience that I’ve had in the East End.

KDHamptons: Describe your perfect Hamptons day in detail?

Susan: Much of my day in the Hamptons is spent with family, going to the beach, swimming in the ocean and feeling my inner mermaid, planning for a dinner party and making time to see friends. I relish waking up to the sound of the bird song. Something about nature’s symphony out east always moves me into the mystery of life and our miraculous existence. Cardinals have been nesting on my property for over a decade and I feel a kinship to both bird song and the activities of bird behavior. I resonate deeply with their nesting instinct. I love to start the morning with a glass of water and the smell of fresh brewing coffee. I then take my coffee outside, sit on my patio and catch up on emails and reading, flip through local publications and enjoy some quiet time.

When my schedule permits, I commence my mornings with an early Bikram yoga class and afterwards come home and swim in my pool, followed with an outdoor shower.
When my kids are with me, I do Bikram yoga with my daughter or all of us, including my husband, will arrange a Paddle Boarding day with Gina Bradley (of Paddle Diva) and go on an adventure. Afterwards we often make a fun stop for lunch, or will have a picnic outdoors, depending on where we paddle. Also, when we have time, we go sailing with friends out of Sag Harbor!

At end of the day my husband, children and I enjoy watching the world turn to dusk then evening. If we are lucky, the fireflies light the night sky followed by the twinkling stars. Finally we go off to bed with deep gratitude for all we’ve been given, and rejoice in the many blessings the day provided.

KDHamptons: How would you describe your jewelry brand?

Susan: I created the SR brand, and my most recent fine jewelry collection “Dive Deep” with the goal of raising awareness about the issues impacting our enviornment and our society within the fashion industry. While people are sometimes hesitant talk about matters such as ocean conservation – women will always talk about what other women are wearing! My jewelry collection is meant to start a conversation and to gracefully draw women away from our society’s insatiable need to always be “on” whether it’s on the phone, online or on the go, and remind them of what it is they hold dear. The “Dive Deep” collection encourages women to take time, rest, and appreciate what is precious in their lives, to operate from a rejuvenated and more balanced space. sR fine jewelry seeks to make women feel both beautiful and good

KDHamptons: You are also committed to supporting Oceana, please share your involvement with that organization?

Susan: I sit on the board of Oceana, and am also Chair of the Ocean Council, a group of global ambassadors for Oceana. As a creative conservationist, I am always seeking innovative ways to start a conversation, and to bring to light to the issues Oceana is working resolve. Before creating my ocean-inspired fine jewelry collections, I produced two films entitled “Sea Change” and “Mission of Mermaids” to raise awareness of pressing issues such as ocean acidification, pollution and overfishing, which are threatening the chemistry of our oceans, and destroying our marine eco-systems from the bottom up. I believe that ocean conversation starts with awareness and knowledge. Through my work with Oceana I am able to educate a global population while working with like-minds who share a similar passion for preserving the health of our oceans and our global community.

KDHamptons: What is your favorite Hamptons restaurant, got a favorite dish?

Susan: Sen in Sag Harbor and Osteria Salina in Bridgehampton are my favorites. Osteria Salina is walking distance from my home and has great sautéed spinach and amazing fresh salads with local tomatoes and mozzarella.

KDHamptons: Do you like to entertain at home? What’s your “go-to” dinner plan?

Susan: My husband and I love to have people over for early evening dinners outside. He grills, and I make fun summer salads with fruits, herbs, and vegetables from the local farm stands. We light candles, and create a romantic ambiance with flowers from our garden, enjoying the company of friends and family.

KDHamptons: Please describe your Hamptons home and decorating style?

Susan: My Hamptons home is my happy place. It’s a charming 18th century farmhouse in Bridgehampton. I worked with the design firm Lyon Stratton and Powell who re-appropriated and reused furniture my family had given me to liven up and personalize the space with more punchy and tribal fabrics and fun accents. While my home is filled with surprises and little hints of magic, one piece that stands out in particular is a hand-carved mermaid from Greenwich Living that rests at ease in the living room.

KDHamptons: If you could invite three people to your Hamptons home for dinner, whom would you choose?

Susan: If I could invite three Hamptons-goers to my Hamptons home for dinner, I would love to host local beekeeper and founder of Bee’s Needs, Mary Woltz, along with film director Steven Speilberg and my father Bertram Cohn.

As an avid conservationist, and a nature lover through and through I would love to learn as much as I could about bees and their unique behavior from a Mary Woltz and her remarkable work. I have always believed that we, as a society, could learn about from bees and their nature, especially in regards to cooperation. I am currently in post-production on my latest documentary on sustainable agriculture, Food For Thought Food For Life, and I would love to speak with Mary about her personal experiences and insight, to better understand the state of bee health and health of pollinator insects on the east end (and globally) in relation to food security issues.

Since Steven Spielberg and I share a passion for film making, I would be thrilled to explore his creative process. Having produced a documentary entitled “Striking a Chord” on the healing effects of music on soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I would also want to talk with Spielberg about the mindset of war as seen in his many war-related works, his thoughts on how to solve the crisis in the Middle East, and how we can work to help diminish the invisible wounds of trauma and PTSD on a global scale.

As if to save the best for last, I would invite my father Bertram Cohn. My father loves people, has insatiably curious mind and is remarkably wise. He would ask Mary and Stephen some fabulous questions and would delight in their company, as I’m sure they would delight in his.