Betty Jeanne Mueller

Obituary of Betty Jeanne Mueller

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Jeanne Mueller was born in Wichita, Kansas. She grew up in Shreveport, LA, Birmingham, AL, and San Bernardino, CA. Her childhood summers were spent at her grandparents' home in Caldwell, Kansas.

At age 16 Betty Jeanne Judkins, as she was then called, graduated Class Valedictorian from Flintridge Academy, a private Catholic girl's high school. She attended UCLA for two years until her marriage to John G. Mueller, who was deployed with the U.S. Navy to the South Pacific during WWII.

While John was overseas, Jeanne taught ballroom dancing at Arthur Murray and was invited, with other instructors, to attend parties in Beverly Hills and at the Mexican President's Spring Palace as an exhibition dancer.

After the war, Jeanne and her husband attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned an undergraduate degree in Sociology and, he, a degree in Civil Engineering.

Ten years later, Jeanne returned to UW where she earned her MSSW and Ph.D. She taught briefly at UW-Madison, and Bryn Mawr College.

Professor Mueller served as a consultant to the U.S. Government on Project Follow-Through, the next step for children who completed Head-Start. In this capacity, she benchmarked day care programs in Sweden while teaching Summer School at Lund University. Her findings and recommendations were presented to the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

In 1972, she joined the faculty at the Cornell University College of Human Ecology. There, she designed, implemented, and was Director of, the undergraduate Social Work Program. She also received substantial grant funding to develop and deliver training to New York State DSS caseworkers.

One of Cornell's few female full professors, Dr. Mueller taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She read all of her students' papers and graded all of their exams. Her office door was always open to her students.

She spent two sabbaticals in Israel interviewing elderly members of the Kibbutzim and making recommendations to the Israeli government regarding services to provide for the unmet needs of its senior citizens.

Upon retirement, she was awarded the status of Professor Emerita.

Jeanne maintained friendships with several of her former students and colleagues who now live across the country and around the world (including South Korea, Israel, and Singapore).

She was generous with her time and knowledge, and encouraged all who knew her to continue their education whether formally, or informally.

Jeanne's personal travels took her across Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. She enjoyed small ship cruises to Alaska, Costa Rica / Panama, and the Pacific Northwest. Her favorite country was Bali.

Jeanne was an optimist who chose to look to the future, rather than dwell in the past. She had an insatiable intellectual curiosity. She was a voracious reader, who was fascinated with new frontiers in science. She followed national and international news closely. She also enjoyed attending symphony orchestra performances and Canadian theater.

Jeanne loved animals, particularly dogs and donkeys. Her philanthropy included many charities that provide care and shelter to abandoned / abused animals.

Jeanne was predeceased by her ex-husbands, John Mueller, and Irving Lazar, her later life-companion, Professor Lawrence K. Williams, and great-grandson, Wyatt. She is survived by her beloved family, including her children - Michael J. (Sharon Petrillose) Mueller and Madelynn J. Mueller; four grandchildren - Melissa J. Mueller-Douglas (Ya'qub Shabazz), Garrett M. Mueller, Emma L. Mueller (Chris Parker) and Alex J. Mueller, four great grandchildren - Nurah, Nasir, Julian, and Lillian, and her faithful Havanese, Jaggs.

A Celebration of life will be held at a later date and time, to be announced.

Memorial gifts can be made to: Doctors Without Borders, Heifer International, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, or Cornell University Veterinary College.