Susan Deixler Became a Mom of Two after Her Life as Barry Manilow's Wife

Susan Deixler, Barry Manilow's ex-wife, was the singer's high school sweetheart. Like her ex, she is a private person but gave a notable interview after he married a man.

Barry Manilow met Susan Deixler at Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, New York, which they both attended in the late '50s and early '60s. She was a popular student, while he was more reserved with a small group of confidants.

Susan, who had taken piano, was very supportive of the future popstar's musical ambitions. He was outed as gay in a 2002 biography by Patricia Butler.

Susan Deixler Was a Well-Rounded Student

Susan was born to Nettie Deixler and Al Deixler. She was the student government president in her senior year, participated in the chorus, Chemistry Squad, and Bowling Club, and was a swimmer.

In addition, she was on the Orientation Committee and City and Boro. Council. According to her senior yearbook, she intended to study nursing at Miami University.

A former classmate remembers the brunette as a "bubbly" person, "There was no one who did not like Susan." She was a year behind Barry in school, and they began dating in her junior year.

Barry Manilow and His Ex-Wife Susan Deixler Had Multiple Wedding Ceremonies

The young couple's parents clashed during their first meeting. The Deixlers wanted a big wedding for their daughter, but Barry's mom, Edna Manilow, and stepdad, Willie Murphy, opposed this over finances.

The newlyweds were compelled to retake their vows.

Eventually, the pair, then 21 and 20 respectively, decided to elope. During their lunch break, they married in a judge's chambers at City Hall in 1964.

The Deixlers did not recognize the civil ceremony and would not let the newlyweds move in together until a rabbi solemnized the union. The second ceremony occurred in a rabbi's office with both sets of parents in attendance.

The following week, the Deixlers threw an extravagant wedding reception for the couple but did not invite Barry's side of the family save for his parents, who declined to attend out of protest.

The newlyweds were compelled to retake their vows with a rabbi in attendance. The following weekend, The Murphys hosted a reception and declined to invite Susan's side. Here, the young couple went through the wedding ceremony for the fourth time.

Susan Deixler Commented on Barry Manilow's Wedding to His Manager

Barry and Susan's marriage fell apart within 18 months. The latter filed for an annulment, citing fraud on Barry's part. She never remarried but has two kids, a boy and a girl, and became a holistic healer.

The "Could It Be Magic" crooner secretly dated his manager Garry Kief for over three decades until they quietly married in April 2014. Barry helped raise Garry's biological daughter, Kirsten.

When news came out of the union around their first wedding anniversary, Susan Deixler broke her long silence: "I wish him well. I'm happy for him. I'm glad that he's found love and happiness."

"What happened between us, our relationship is ancient history," she elaborated. "And I don't want to dig back into ancient history." She is based in the small community of Point Reyes Station, California.