Born: 06/26/1925 Chicago, IL Died: 02/23/2026 Vershire, VT Details of service: Donations in Betty’s memory can be sent to the endowment fund which offers financial assistance to graduate students studying special education:https://giving.temple.edu/BettyHareSaulAxelrodScholars hip Physical checks can be sent to:  The Betty Hare and Saul Axelrod Endowed Scholarship.Temple University Institutional AdvancementP.O. Box 2890New York, NY 10116-2890 Betty Hare, 100, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Betty is survived by three children: Helen Wilson (spouse Gregory), James Hare, Jr. (spouse Melissa), and Bill Hare (spouse Melody). Her fourth child, Kathleen Hare, died in 1971. Her husband of 62 years, Dr. James M. Hare, died in 2008. Betty’s family also included grandchildren Jeremy Thorne (spouse Sandra), Ian Thorne, Justin Hare, and Amanda Helali (spouse Chris); great-grandchildren Fin Thorne (partner Matt Papalionakis), Theo Helali, and Mina Helali; and chosen family Samantha and Asha Moffatt. Betty truly believed that family was the greatest gift in life. She was also passionately devoted to improving educational opportunities for all children, working in the field of Special Education for 60+ years.  She served as Department Chair for the Special Education Department at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, where an Endowed Scholarship Fund has been established in her name. She helped create the federal legislation that required all schools to provide appropriate learning opportunities for all children, regardless of handicap.  She also served as the President of the national Council for Exceptional Children, Mental Retardation Division; and was Director of a US Office of Education Project, Individualizing Instruction for Mentally Retarded Learners. She wrote a book, Teaching Young Handicapped Children, designed especially to help parents of handicapped children. She taught, tutored, and advocated for children with special needs until her retirement at age 87. In addition to her work in education, Betty had a beautiful singing voice, initially studying at Oberlin Music Conservatory, planning a career in music. While rearing 4 children and teaching full time, she always found time for music, working as choir director at Lutheran and Episcopalian churches in Pennsylvania and Florida. Since moving to Vermont in 2018, Betty enjoyed community activities, getting to know the birds of Vermont, playing with her great-grandchildren, and taking her daily walks around the farm. Her secret to a long and productive life – stay active, mentally and physically, and drink plenty of coffee! She is greatly missed. Read the story on VTDigger here: Dr. Betty A. Hare. ...read more read less