Betty Kay Holpert

Betty Kay Holpert died peacefully at home on July 26, 2015 at age 92, after a heart ailment and a series of severe allergic reactions to a prescription drug weakened her irreparably. She lived a full, wonderful life. Betty was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 15, 1923 and grew up in Brooklyn in a large multi-generational immigrant family. She attended public schools and became an avid reader and patron of the Brooklyn Public Library. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1944 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and graduated from Pratt Institute in 1945 with a Bachelor of Library Science. She met her sweetheart, Merrill, at age 14 and they married in 1945, forming a partnership that endured for 63 years until Merrill's death in 2008. Betty, Merrill and their children moved to Tucson in 1952, and Betty served as a community volunteer, participating in and leading a variety of organizations, including the Peter Howell, Alice Vail Jr. High and Rincon High School PTA's, the Tucson Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, Information & Referral, the Rincon Chapter of the American Field Service, and Tucson East Community Mental Health Center. In 1966, Betty returned to paid work, as a cataloger for the Tucson Public Library and soon ascended to management. From 1968-74, Betty was the Manager of the Wilmot Branch of the Tucson Public Library, and from 1974-85, she was the Manager of the Main Library Region. Betty retired from the Tucson Public Library in June 1985 to enjoy traveling the world, explore other interests, and spend more time with her family and friends. She appointed herself "Public Library Advocate at Large" soon after. In her new role, she "educated" state and local political figures and the business community about the essential role public libraries play in protecting democracy, contributing to economic development, and promoting community literacy and livability. In 1987, Betty was honored by the Arizona State Library Association with its Distinguished Service Award, and in 1998, she co-founded the Tucson-Pima Library Foundation, to develop a permanent endowment for the Pima Public Library system. The Wilmot Library Reading Room was named in her honor in 2009. Betty was known for her extraordinary kindness, generosity, goodness, positive attitude, and her signature large round black glasses. She lived without guile and judgment, always believed the best of every person she met, and was an eternal optimist. She valued family and friendship, learning and education, music, theater, opera, yoga, and public and community institutions. She nourished a diverse group of relatives, friends and colleagues, who enriched her life and with whom she communicated regularly, typically by phone. She loved connecting people with common interests with one another, and relished the discovery of overlapping friendships and "interfaces." We will miss her greatly and remember her with love and affection. Her life and work made us better people and remind us of what we can build together. Betty was predeceased by her parents, Harry, Pauline and Anna Ginsberg; sisters, Florence and Ruth and her beloved husband, Merrill. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Terry Holpert and Alan Stein; son and partner, Peter Holpert and JoAnn Tamez; grandchildren, Benjy and Anne-Marie Stein and David Stein and Rebecca Popuch; great-grandchildren, Max, Naomi and Emmy Kay Stein; niece, Tamara Chesin Wolfe; nephews, Marc, Michael and Jeffrey Chesin; dear cousin, Beverly Goldman; many cousins, grand nieces and nephews and many longtime friends. We thank Dr. Steven Wool and staff for their compassionate care and expertise, and the staff of BrightStar Care for their kindness and support. Services will be led by Rabbi Samuel Cohon on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at EVERGREEN MORTUARY CHAPEL on North Oracle Road and West Miracle Mile in Tucson. Burial will follow in the Temple Emanu-El section of Evergreen Cemetery. For those wishing to honor Betty, please take a child to the library to get a library card, an action Betty regarded as one of the greatest gifts an adult can give to a child; enjoy and support your local library; call or lunch with a friend; and contribute to the Pima Library Foundation, P.O. Box 13245, Tucson, AZ 85732-3245.