Obituary of Betty Ladd

Betty Jane (B.J.) Ladd, daughter of the late Harland A. Ladd and Doris Dow Ladd passed away on Sunday August 6, 2012 at home. Born in Brownville Junction, Maine, on January 9, 1929, she grew up in Milo, Maine, attended Morse High School in Bath and graduated from Cony High School in Augusta. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Maine in Orono in 1950 and Master's Degree and Supervisor's Certificate from the University of Connecticut. Betty taught for two years at Union High School in Union, Maine and was the Assistant Training Director at G. Fox & Co. in Hartford from 1952-1958. Thereafter she was employed as a teacher in the History and Social Sciences Department at Glastonbury High School. Three years later she was the first to be appointed as director of the department until her retirement in 1989. Betty was most proud of the accomplishments of the staff she supervised. The National Council of Social Studies recognized the Glastonbury High School curriculum as one of the most outstanding civic education programs in the nation. Special commendation was given by the Council to the Current Issues course required of seniors. Among the most memorable moments in her career were having the class of 1962 dedicate its yearbook to her, being chosen as an honorary class member by several graduating classes and speaking at the graduation of the class of 1993. But most significant was having a scholarship established in her name by colleagues and friends to be awarded annually to a senior who demonstrated outstanding citizenship in school and the community. Betty also was the recipient of many academic honors. She was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar and spent three months in a travel and study program in India in 1967. She was granted the first sabbatical by the Glastonbury Board of Education in 1969 and spent ten months traveling the world preparing curriculum materials focusing on global education. During some of this time, she assisted the Fulbright Director, Sharada Nayak, who was leading another curriculum supervisory group traveling in India. The friendship with Sharada and her family was a lasting relationship for the rest of Betty's life. Betty traveled extensively throughout Western Europe, the Soviet Union, Egypt, Kenya, Turkey, Iran, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States. She also maintained her ties with her beloved Maine and owned a cottage at First Roach Pond in Kokadjo. Organizations in which Betty had leadership responsibilities included the Connecticut Social Studies Council, the Connecticut Economic Council, Glastonbury YMCA, the Glastonbury Human Rights Council, and the Roach Pond Improvement Association. She leaves her cousins, Charlene Wehrle and her husband, Kenneth in Maine, and Betty Lou Munson and husband, Richard in North Carolina. Throughout Betty's courageous battle with cancer for more than two decades she was grateful for her many friends and former colleagues who supported her in countless ways. They were her family and she loved them as such. A memorial service celebrating Betty's life will be held Wednesday, August 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. Betty will be buried with her parents in the East Dover, Maine Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Betty Jane Ladd Scholarship Fund, Board of Education, P.O. Box 191, Glastonbury, CT, 06033 or the Ark Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 276 Cherryfield, ME, 04622 or the charity of one's choice. To share a memory please visit www.mulryanfh.com