In Memoriam - Elizabeth A. Wood

 
I’m sorry to inform you that Betty Wood passed away on March 23rd, but am comforted to be able to say that she was surrounded by people who loved her.   We found your name on a card or note or in her address book, so wanted to let you know of her passing.

Betty passed out while driving her car on Feb 14.   Luckily, she ran gently into a snow bank and was taken to the hospital, where she had a pacemaker installed.   Her nephew, Bud Booth & Betsy came to NJ and stayed with her for the last 5 weeks.   We had wonderful times with her, reminiscing about family and fun times together, and helped organize her apartment and paperwork.    After a month-long stay in the hospital and rehab, she enjoyed a triumphant return to Applewood, with welcoming greetings from all.  She was poised to continue therapy and have aides as necessary to assist with household needs, but Wednesday morning she failed to answer her morning call from Rae and was found unconscious in her apartment.   We returned to NJ and with Rae and friends from the Unitarian Congregation, held her and sang to her as she died.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday evening, March 31st at 7:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth, 1475 West Front Street, Lincroft, NJ.    For now, we’re at her apartment; next week, we’ll return to NH, 294 Sewall Road, Wolfeboro, NH 03894     603-569-2453.

Obituary as published in The Asbury Park Press and the Star Ledger:

Elizabeth A. Wood, 93, of Freehold, NJ passed away on March 23, 2006 at Centra State Medical Center surrounded by family and friends. Betty was born in 1912 in New York City. She earned a BA at Barnard and her MA and PhD at Bryn Mawr College. After teaching at Bryn Mawr and Barnard for 8 years, she was the first female scientist ever hired at Bell Laboratories, where she spent 24 years as a research physical crystallographer. In addition to her research, she published several books, was a noted Iris-hybridizer, and was awarded three honorary doctorates. She was preceded in death by her husband Sandy in 1977, and is survived by her loving companion of 27 years, W. Rae Young, her nephew, Ralph Booth and his family and her sister-in-law, Della Wood and her family.     For the last 12 years she and Rae had apartments at Applewood Estates, where they enjoyed an active life revolving around plays, sailing, music, French and German discussion groups and extensive travel.     

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CentraState Foundation, 916 Route 33, Freehold, NJ 07728, with a notation for the Betty Wood Award for Science and Education in the Applewood Employee Scholarship Fund.
 
March 27, 2006

NOTE FROM ACA:

In 1997, the ACA established the Elizabeth A. Wood Science Writing Award. The award is named in honor of Elizabeth A. Wood, President of the ACA in 1957, and author of science books for lay readers. Persons who have written books or articles that bring science to the attention of a wider audience are eligible. The award is given every three years.
Previous winners were:

2004  Oliver Sacks
2002  Ira Flatow
2001  K.C. Cole
1999  Robert Weinberg
1998  Robert M. Hazen
1997  Roald Hoffmann

Tax deductible donations to ACA are gratefully accepted. Send check or credit card information to ACA, PO Box 96 Ellicott Station, buffalo, NY 14205-0096, aca@hiw.buffalo.edu