Betty Grant Austin

Betty Grant Austin February 27, 1920 - August 3, 2006 Passed away peacefully in Berkeley surrounded by family after a short illness. Gracious, loving matriarch, guide and friend to a blended family: mother of three, stepmother of four, grandmother to 18, and great grandmother to three. Predeceased in 2000 by beloved husband, John Page Austin, to whom she had been married for nearly 30 years. During that time, they shared a home in Berkeley, and a ranch in the Gold Country, where the extended family congregated every summer. She was best and proudest as a mother and family pillar. Born in Ann Arbor, MI, and raised in Peking, China, Betty lived most of her life in Berkeley, where she was a vibrant contributor to the community. UC Berkeley class of 1940 - Pi Beta Phi Sorority, president; Mortar Board; Prytannean; first Women's Rally Committee; and until recently UC Berkeley University Class Council. Columbia University, masters of social work, 1942. Married to F. Pierce Lathrop from 1941 to 1965, with whom she raised three children, who survive her and miss her greatly: Steve Lathrop, Shand Lathrop Green, and Tom Lathrop. Betty took great pleasure in community service and philanthropy, supporting a variety of causes, usually quietly, many in the public health sector. She volunteered her energy and enthusiasm over the years to the Girl Scouts, Children's Hospital, Ombudsman Long-Term Care, YWCA Board of Directors, Bancroft Library, Mills College Associate Council, Asian Art Museum, and the First Congregational Church of Berkeley. She collected Chinese teapots, read widely and loved the outdoors as a gardener, a hiker and the "Grandma of the Austin Ranch." She cherished and influenced a wide circle of friends, including "old China hands," the soup group, several book and hiking groups, the "Sewing Circle," and members with her in many local clubs. These all gave her joy and she gave to each of them all that she had to give, including the calm wisdom of her broad experience, her graciousness and her genuine concern for others. She had a profound influence upon each of her family members and her many friends and coworkers. She enriched her communities and they will miss her. Friends are invited to join the family to celebrate Betty's life at a Memorial Service on Sept. 11th, 11:00am, at the First Congregational Church in Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. A reception follows at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Way. The family prefers donations to the Betty Grant Austin Memorial Fund for C.C. Chen Scholars, at the U.C. School of Public Health. Betty established this scholarship program eight years ago to train exceptional graduate students for service as public health leaders in developing countries. It honors Dr. C.C. Chen, a protégé of Betty's father, Dr. John B. Grant, who together pioneered concepts of community-based public health and regionally-organized medical services in China that were popularly characterized as "bare-foot doctoring." Please contact UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Attn: Pat Hosel, 140 Earl Warren Hall, Berkeley 94720 (510-642-9654).