"I used to think I was a woman who needed a man. Now I know I'm a woman that a man needs," asserts Susan Noles, a contestant from Aston Township, Delaware County, on the history-making first season of ABC's "The Golden Bachelor."
She says she had the best experience on the dating reality show, making all new friends and sharing stories. After her participation, her message to other women who are 50 years-plus young: "It's never too late to live again, whether that means through friendships or your love life."
Susan, 66, is a wedding officiant with a business, Nuptials by Noles, and previously was married to MLB player Dickie Noles, a former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. She has five grandchildren and a heaven-embraced sixth one. Although she's retired from being a hair stylist, she says she does hair for family members and friends – a skill many of her fellow show contestants gladly tapped into, especially for Rose Ceremonies.
"When doing hair presently, conversations have changed. Everyone keeps telling me they've never seen me more happy, that I glow," she confides. "I like to laugh, I love people and I want to be surrounded by spirited positivity."
Susan's journey to the TV show started nearly four years ago. Her friend, Lottie Peslar, discovered producers were going to do what she referred to as "An Old People Bachelor," and recalls suggesting to Susan she should apply. Susan did, but, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and delayed the overall process, to the point Susan assumed there was no interest. However, the feisty, fun-loving female from Delco ultimately was one of only 22 cast members chosen from 30,000-plus candidates.
True to Susan's high-energy, happy-go-lucky but direct personality, she performed a karate demonstration in a Golden talent episode. After the show, she kept going with new endeavors by modeling in a New York City fashion show for women's intimate apparel brand Adore Me. In photos shared on Instagram, Susan rocked a silky lingerie dress and pearls to highlight her long-standing, signature Kris Jenner twinning look. Adore Me’s caption for it: “@thesusannoles gave us T-H-E-E most fierce energy on the runway this week.”
These days, Susan says she most enjoys family times, golfing and traveling as often as possible.
Donna Tribuiani, Susan's cousin, says Susan has been an outgoing star since she was born. "Nothing's changed in that department," Donna adds.
"I highly recommend living while you can. Being a hair stylist, I always felt I was on stage and should be entertaining," quips Susan.
To that end, Susan, Lottie and Donna can be seen during spring and fall excursions, frolicking, shopping and dining up-and-down Main Street in New Hope, a destination often lauded by top publications.
Susan's Must-Have Meatball Recipe:
Susan earned culinary MVP status on "The Golden Bachelor" Season 1 due to her expertise in the kitchen. Coming from an Italian-American family, Susan fed both the cast and crew with dishes she learned from her nana, the most famous of which is her meatballs.
Serves: 15 people (which amounts to about two meatballs each, slightly bigger than a golf ball)
Ingredients:
1 pound ground veal
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground beef OR 3 pounds meatloaf mix
1 egg per pound of meat
Salt (to taste; cup your hand and fill the well in the center of it with salt)
Pepper to taste
1 clove fresh garlic, minced, or ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
3 or 4 shakes dried chopped basil leaves
¼–½ cup Locatelli cheese or grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoned breadcrumbs (the meat moist is meant to remain moist, so add breadcrumbs a little at a time; Susan does not measure how many breadcrumbs she uses)
Meatball Directions:
Combine veal, beef and pork in a large bowl; add eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese and garlic, and mix well with hands. Sprinkle mixture with salt, pepper and basil flakes. Shape into balls (bigger than a golf ball, smaller than a tennis ball).
Preheat a cast-iron skillet with about one knuckle’s worth of oil (enough to come to a quarter of the way up the side of the meatballs).
To fry the meatballs, cook until browned and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes on each side.
To finish cooking them in sauce, prepare pan as referenced, and brown meatballs for a little longer to make a nice crust, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Transfer them to the pan with the gravy and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 hours.
Gravy Directions:
Susan's basic “gravy” is a red sauce with meat.
Place a few cloves of chopped garlic in enough oil just to cover the bottom of a large pot, and sauté over medium heat until fragrant. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Before the garlic begins to brown, add the meat (pork rib, pork bone or 1 pound Italian sausage), and cook until browned. Add 1 large can (about 15 ounces) crushed tomatoes and 1 large can puree, or two cans of crushed tomatoes for thicker sauce. Then add meatballs. Add two small cans tomato paste.
Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally. (Susan says she usually cooks it for 3 or 4 hours, and sometimes adds a little red wine if she has all day to simmer the gravy.)
Regrets From Doing The Show?
A grateful Susan replies "None whatsoever," and that she became good friends with Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner but that a romantic spark simply didn't fully ignite. However, she graciously officiated Gerry and Theresa Nist’s wedding in January for the show.
Golden Bachelor certainly opened new doors for this Pennsylvania native and regional VIP. Wherever Susan goes and dines, she says she often receives unexpected roses. "I love the people who've touched my life and loved having the opportunity to touch their lives."
"The Golden Bachelorette" is coming this fall, but at press time, an announcement had not yet been made about who will be its leading woman. Susan's avid and numerous #TeamSusan fans immediately took up the cause, lobbying online for her to be the one.
Regardless of Susan's future, she encourages others to do whatever makes them feel personally good. "It's been a helluva' ride. No more dating sites, though. I'm done actively looking for love," she declares. "If love happens, it's God's will."
Spoiler: Susan says it definitely WAS the guac!
Editor's Note: "Golden Bachelor" stars Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts began hosting a new podcast 'Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour.' The costars: "We share OUR life lessons with humor and ask listeners to dish on what’s going on in their lives. Nothing surprises us!”
