Betsy Whitefield

Betsy Ann Whitefield, age 62, formerly of Saranac Lake and currently Lake Placid, died Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at her home with loved ones by her side.

Born in White Plains, New York on May 02, 1949, she was the daughter of James and Betty (Bormann) Whitefield.

Betsy graduated from Paramus High School, NJ in 1967, Farleigh Dickinson University in 1971, and University of Albany, with Master of Library Science in 1977.

Betsy was Library Director of the Saranac Lake Free Library for almost 25 years. Prior to that she worked at or was director of several libraries in New Jersey, including the Edgewater Public Library.

A woman of many talents, Betsy never stopped learning and discovering new hobbies. If you didn’t find her on the golf course, she was out on the ice. Curling and golf were latest passions, but over the course of her life she had a plethora of others. A guitarist in a folk band, an 18th century re-enactor, an avid boater, a student of Aikido, a bowler and you could also find her paddling away in her kayak. Betsy was President of the Lake Placid Curling Club and was President of the Skating Club of Lake Placid.

Her passion for the power of books and the distribution of knowledge, led to her successes in her professional life. Betsy accomplished many goals; she saw her dream of expanding the library come to fruition, she led the Saranac Lake Free Library into the computer age and she gave freely of her knowledge and experience to the many smaller more rural libraries around her.

Betsy was immensely proud of her accomplishments within the library, she always knew what was going on in her profession and brought the best of new ideas to Saranac Lake.

She loved curling on the lake, folk and classical music, lavender and lobster. She read 2-3 books at a time, loved history, autobiographies and how people ticked. Above all, the joy of being a grandmother was what kept her fighting to the end. An amazing mother, grandmother, friend and community leader, Betsy’s time with us will never be forgotten. Her family cabin in Stony Creek was probably one of her favorite places in the world, a place to spend time with family, a place she will never leave. Her smile lit up a room and her laugh will never be silenced. Her joy in life radiated to all around her.

She is survived by two daughters Erica Beggs of Great Neck, NY, and Elisabeth Patterson and her husband Derek of Lake Placid, NY, one granddaughter Emma Lynn Patterson of Lake Placid, NY, two brothers Donald Whitefield and his wife Michelle of Thurman, NY and James A. Whitefield of Providence, RI, nieces and nephews Evan and Sarah Whitefield and their daughter Katherine of Clifton Park, NY and David T. Whitefield of Greensboro, NC. Her father and mother preceded her in death.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 2PM -4PM and 7PM - 9PM. A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday February 27, 2012 at St. Eustace Episcopal Church in Lake Placid, with Rev. David Ousley officiating.

Friends wishing to remember Betsy Ann Whitefield may make memorial contributions to Saranac Lake Free Library or The Leukemia Lymphoma Society in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeoughfuneral home.com.