BETTY DAVID

DAVID--Betty (nee Leavitt), a former Picture Editor of Look Magazine, passed away peacefully on the morning of December 25 at age 94. The beloved wife of Robert David, mother of Daniel and Joshua (Debora Antscherl), grandmother of Andrew, Jesse, Claire and Isaac, she also cherished her many friendships and was uniformly appreciated for her kindness. Born in Flint, Michigan, Betty grew up with a passion for photography and was a championship debater in high school before entering the University of Michigan on an academic scholarship. Arriving in New York in 1948, she landed her first job as a photo researcher at Coronet magazine and by the early 1950s was hired as Director of Picture Research at Look, a prestigious, general-interest magazine. In late 1958, Betty traveled to Germany, where she secured exclusive U.S. publication rights to the work of Hugo Jaeger, one of Hitler's personal photographers. She brought back never-before- seen color photographs that appeared in Look's January 6, 1959 issue. Promoted to Picture Editor in 1960, her role led to meetings with many American icons -- her two most memorable being Carl Sandburg and Cary Grant. After retiring from Look, Betty began a new chapter behind the camera with a focus on photographing children. In the 1980s and 1990s, she worked on landmark child-rearing books by the Gesell Institute of Human Development. Beginning with Your Five-Year-Old in 1981, Betty's photos appeared in six of the series' 10 volumes - all remaining in circulation today. She also served as a photographer for The Brearley School throughout the 1980s. Betty had many interests, but nothing could compete with her love for her family, particularly her sons, whom she often said meant the world to her. A graveside service will be held at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton, NY on December 30, 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests support for the Alzheimer's Association.