Born in Bergen County, her family moved to Wayne in 1961 when Betty was entering 7th grade.  After high school, her next four years were spent at Clark University, where she spent most of her academic energy in philosophy and religion, and every other kind of energy in Hillel. Always looking for "the Jewish angle" in things, Betty infused as much Judaism as could be had in secular environments throughout her educational and civic life.  Through Hillel, she encouraged Clark faculty to integrate Jewish history and culture into mainstream courses.  She wove the Jewish perspective into each of ten research papers in her philosophy, sociology, psychology and history courses.

After graduation, she served as a non-lawyer Legal Officer in the Navy, as well as Jewish Representative to the Chaplain's Office.

Betty then returned to Wayne and established a small publishing business, drawing on skills learned working in her parents' business along with her passion for things Jewish.  She created a newsletter which served as a clearinghouse of resources for Rabbis and Jewish educators. After awhile, she attended Friday night services in what is now "the shed" on Shomrei Torah's property.  "The idea of supporting a new Conservative congregation was very appealing to me.  My parents, at that time, belonged to an Orthodox Shul in Passaic.  Over time, I realized I really preferred a Conservative approach.  Once I decided I wasn't leaving Wayne, I knew it was time to join the Wayne Conservative Congregation. That was 30 years ago!"

It took her some time to find her 'niche.'  In the course of her 26 year professional career, she attended numerous conferences and seminars, where she studied moral education; Jewish and Christian concepts of forgiveness, redemption, salvation, intermarriage and conversion; Islam and Judaism; Jewish-Christian dialogue; and a wide range of other topics.  Her interests didn't exactly fit in with the standard committees.  "Lee Ann Beck invited me to a W.I.N. (Wayne Interfaith Network) meeting. She knew it might be a good match. Operation Isaiah (our High Holiday Basic Necessities Drive) came along as a project of the Conservative Movement and enhanced the whole relationship between W.I.N. and Shomrei Torah."

Having grown up in town during the 1960's, Betty has her own perspective on Wayne and the Jewish community.  For W.I.N., she wrote a pamphlet discussing the history of ecumenical and interfaith activities in Wayne from the 1950's to the1990's.  She passionately believes that it is very important for people to know about the good things that transpire over time. "Joy and hope", she says "are life enhancing.  We take ten drops of wine from the glass at the Seder to keep us (figuratively) a little grounded.  But the rest of the four glasses keep us savoring the pure delight of the celebration. And if we look at many of our prayers, they keep going back to this wonderful event and the joy and hope it brings!  Proverbs say, 'One who has a merry heart has a continual feast!' There are plenty of gloom and doom prophets and they have their place.  But I see it as my job to balance that with a happy outlook.  I get that perspective from my mother and father."

Asked what she does in her spare time, Betty laughed. "I don't think in those terms. 'To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven.'  Work, Rest, Play. It's all essential!"