Betty Lewis, born Ida Mae Hulet, died
on March 3, 2010 at her new home in Los
Angeles, California
after a very brief illness. She was 85
years old.
Born in New York City on July 31, 1924 to Helen
Potter and Leslie Hulet, Mrs. Lewis was one of four children who grew up during
the Great Depression.
Before raising her own children,
Mrs. Lewis worked as a commercial darkroom assistant and also as an accounting
clerk for the National Association of Mutual Savings Banks. She also attended New York University,
where she met her beloved husband Henry.
Henry and Betty Lewis were married on
October 16, 1947 and lived in New York City until 1969 when they moved their
family to Christopher Road in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Mrs. Lewis was certified in the
human relations courses of Parent Effectiveness Training, Effectiveness
Training for Women, and Teacher Effectiveness Training. She taught classes for over 20 years at her
Effectiveness Studio, and at schools and other public venues in and around the Ridgefield community.
Henry and Betty Lewis were
long-time members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, and formerly
members of the Unitarian Church of Westport, and the Unitarian Universalist
Church of Flushing, New York. Mr. and
Mrs. Lewis were also active for many years at the national level with the
Unitarian Universalist Association.
An enthusiastic environmentalist
and advocate for solar energy technology, Mrs. Lewis was an early and long-time
supporter of Ralph Nader, who encouraged her to “spread the word” about
environmental issues. She was also a member
of P.A.C.E. (People’s Action for Clean Energy).
From her late 60’s through age 75
Mrs. Lewis studied Karate with Master Steve Doyon at Connecticut Marshal Arts
in Danbury, Connecticut. A full-page article in the News-Times of Danbury, Connecticut
spotlighted her achievements as a senior in a decidedly “non-senior” sport.
Mrs. Lewis is survived by her two
sons, Paul and Philip Lewis and her adopted family, which includes Betty’s
life-long friend, Cleo Wisniewski of Patchogue,
New York, Mrs. Wisniewski’s son
and daughter, Glenn Wisniewski and Lynn Pesselano, and their children, Mrs.
Lewis’ “grand-niece and grand-nephews.”
Mrs. Lewis will be laid to rest
next to her husband in the Ridgebury
Cemetery, 655 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut. A graveside service will be held on Sunday,
April 18, 2010 at 3:30pm. The Public is
welcome. Donations in lieu of flowers
should be made to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, 24 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, CT 06811.