I first met Betsy at Hudson Sr High in 1977 & she wrote in my autograph book:  Remember me as that wild & crazy kind of girl - & that she was but she was feisty & a great friend & I will miss her.

Beautiful Betsy, I know it sounds cliche but I truly do remember the day we first met as if it were yesterday. I walked through the doors of RST for the first time, new to Florida, answering open auditions for Brigadoon. You were sitting in the front row with Michael Silvestri. You had never seen me before in your life but welcomed me to sit with you and instantly made me feel welcome and at ease. I was so astounded not only by your outer beauty but your inner beauty, warmth, kindness, graciousness and of course your vivaciousness and incredible talent. I can't imagine a warmer welcome to what would become my lifelong theater family. I ended up doing Brigadoon and it seemed like before I knew it you and Michael were off to New York to pursue your dreams. I don't remember exactly how long it had been but one day I walked into the theater and there were you, sitting next to Michael, just like before! You were back! You were even more stunning than before you left if that's possible. Your hair was shorter and you were wearing a stunning shade of ruby red lipstick. I'm sure I gushed like an idiot and maybe I embarrassed you or myself but if I did you never let it show. Again, you were as gracious as ever and simply smiled and thanked me. Somehow, even though we were members of the same theater family we were never in a show together. I remember coming to see you and Michael and Jimmy Mitchell in Pippin and being dragged up to the balcony to operate the follow spot. Whoever was supposed to have been there didn't show that day and I was terrified. I didn't want to fail any of you and I know the spotlight was shaking. As we know the show must go on and you all soldiered on as if you didn't even notice. At some point we all seemed to move on to other theaters and different productions. Being as young as we were our lives took us in different directions, but the impact of your genuine warmth and kindness has stayed with me all my life. I was thrilled when after 35 years we reconnected through Facebook. It was as if no time had passed and you were still every bit as sweet, and lovely, and funny. I'm so happy to have that last recent memory of you as the sole participant in my online Jamberry party. You were playing all the online games and winning all of the prizes. At one point you said "I don't know why no one else is doing this! It's so fun!" So you ended up scoring a lot of free goodies for your daughter and it was so fun interacting with you in that way. If there are any photos of us together I haven't found one yet but I can picture the memories of our encounters vividly in my mind. You made the world and my life a brighter place just by being in it. I will try to honor your memory by approaching every day with your same kindness, optimism, and fighting spirit. I will miss your presence terribly. I'm so glad that the last time we messaged each other the last thing we said to each other was "love you!" I can't help but think that anyone who was fortunate enough to have met you felt the same and saw all the same things in you that I did. That is the magic of sweet Betsy. A beautiful soul. "Love you!"