When you think of Barry Manilow, your mind probably goes straight to his timeless hits, sold-out concerts, and the millions of fans who still adore him today. But behind the spotlight and the stage lights, there’s a lesser-known figure whose presence shaped a quiet but meaningful chapter in his early life — Susan Deixler.
Her name doesn’t echo through music halls or appear in flashy headlines, yet her story is forever woven into the tapestry of one of the music industry’s legends. And while Susan never chased fame, her life remains an intriguing reminder that the paths we take — and the ones we leave behind — shape not just us, but the people we love too.
Let’s step away from the bright lights for a moment and get to know the woman who was once Barry Manilow’s first wife, and discover what her life has looked like since she quietly stepped out of the spotlight.
Growing Up in Brooklyn: Simple Beginnings
Born in 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, Susan Deixler’s upbringing was a world away from the celebrity circles she’d briefly touch later on. Raised with traditional family values, her childhood was shaped by tight-knit family bonds, home-cooked meals, and a community that watched out for one another.
She attended Eastern District High School, a place where she’d soon meet a young boy named Barry Alan Pincus — the world would later know him by his stage name, Barry Manilow.
A Teenage Love Story in the Halls of High School
Susan’s teenage years were marked by the kind of innocent romance you’d find in an old movie. She was a junior, he was a senior — two kids who connected over music, dreams, and that electric excitement of first love.
They were the couple who turned heads in the hallways, who lingered after class just to steal a few extra minutes together. For Susan and Barry, high school wasn’t just about grades or prom — it was where they found each other, two young dreamers from Brooklyn imagining what life might look like together.
Young, In Love, and Married at 19
At just 19 years old, Susan did what many young women dream of — she married her high school sweetheart. In 1964, they eloped in a ceremony that matched who they were at heart: private, low-key, and intimate.
Back then, Barry wasn’t the star we know today. He was still finding his voice, exploring his love for music, and trying to build a life with Susan by his side. For a while, they created a quiet little world together — full of hope, new beginnings, and the everyday joys that newlyweds discover.
An Unexpected Ending: When Love Isn’t Enough
Sadly, the young marriage didn’t last long. Just two years after saying “I do,” Susan and Barry’s marriage ended in annulment in 1966. The reasons weren’t dramatic in the tabloid sense, but they were deeply human.
Barry has since spoken candidly about his struggles with his sexual orientation during those early years. At a time when society was far less accepting, he was torn between the life he thought he should build and the truth about who he really was.
Susan, for her part, navigated this heartbreak with grace and dignity. There was no scandal, no public mudslinging — just two young people, realizing that love alone couldn’t hold a marriage together when deeper truths were at play.
Life After Barry: Choosing Peace Over Fame
Unlike many who brush shoulders with celebrity, Susan didn’t chase the spotlight after her brief chapter with Barry ended. She quietly stepped away from any brush with fame and chose a different kind of life — one rooted in privacy, family, and service.
She eventually remarried for a time and raised two children, Pauline and Danny, pouring her energy into motherhood and building a peaceful home far from flashing cameras and sold-out arenas.
Finding Purpose in Helping Others
Susan didn’t just stop at raising a family. She found a calling in holistic healing, focusing her career on providing care and comfort to older adults. Her work wasn’t about status or recognition — it was about giving back, offering compassion, and being present for people who needed her calm spirit.
Those who’ve known her describe her as warm-hearted and deeply kind — the sort of person who offers support not just for the body, but for the heart and mind too.
The Question of Money: Modest but Content
When your ex-husband is Barry Manilow, people naturally wonder about money. But the reality is, Susan’s life choices speak volumes about what she values most.
She didn’t cash in on her connection to Barry. There were no tell-all books, no tabloid exclusives, no reality TV attempts. Instead, she focused on raising her kids, tending to her practice, and living a life of calm privacy.
Compared to Barry’s global success and impressive fortune, Susan’s financial life is modest — but that seems to be exactly how she wants it.
A Legacy That Lingers Quietly
It’s easy to think of Susan Deixler as just a footnote in Barry Manilow’s biography, but that would miss the point. For Barry, Susan was his first wife, his high school love, the person who stood by him when his dreams were still just dreams.
Their brief marriage shaped him in ways that rippled through his music, his choices, and his journey toward accepting himself. And for Susan, that early chapter was just one part of a rich life built on her own terms.
Life Today: A Quiet Chapter of Peace
Now approaching her 80s, Susan still lives a life that echoes the same calm values she’s always held dear. She resides in a small Californian community, surrounded by a tight circle of loved ones who value her warmth and kindness.
While Barry’s voice continues to fill stadiums and streaming playlists, Susan’s legacy lives on in quieter ways — in her children, the people she’s cared for, and the simple example she set by choosing a life true to her own heart.
What Susan Deixler’s Story Teaches Us
Susan’s story isn’t one of glitz, fame, or red carpets. It’s a reminder that sometimes the people who shape our lives the most do so quietly, far from the spotlight.
She reminds us that there’s power in walking away from what doesn’t serve us, strength in choosing privacy over attention, and lasting fulfillment in focusing on family and service.
For those who know her story, Susan Deixler remains proof that sometimes the greatest legacy is not the one you broadcast, but the one you live gently every day.
So here’s to Susan — the high school sweetheart who once held the heart of a future music legend, and the woman who went on to build a life of calm purpose and quiet dignity long after the curtain closed on their youthful love story.