In Memory of Betty Bock

The National Women’s History Project would like to thank Betty Bock for her extraordinary generosity.  Betty, who passed in June of 2007, left her estate to nine non-profits including the National Women’s History Project.  Her legacy will be manifested in countless ways that reflect the principled life she led.

I met Betty Bock over 30 years ago when I was the Director of our local Commission on the Status of Women.  By that time, she was a widow and a retired librarian.  Passionate about representative democracy, she volunteered as a Board watcher and sat through hours and hours of very boring meetings to make sure that the people’s rights were protected.   She believed in the power of education and honored organizations that educated and sheltered women.  Her white hair pulled back in a bun coupled with a both serene and severe demeanor belied her radical support for the ACLU and AIDS organizations.  Although she was easy to talk with, I wish I had asked her different questions.  It was only with her passing and her generous gift that I learn of her real priorities, which have given me a very large window into what she valued. 

Her gift came at a very significant time for the National Women’s History Project.
Given how difficult these times have been for non-profits, I’m assuming that the other beneficiaries are as grateful as we are.  All of us will carry Betty’s Legacy forward with our work, which represents the core values of her life.  Thank you, Betty.

For more information about supporting the work of the National Women’s History Project through Planned Giving, please email me at ednasmolly@aol.com.

With much gratitude,

Molly Murphy MacGregor
Executive Director and Cofounder
National Women’s History Project