Betty Baer
Betty Baer Professor and Chair, Social Work Program 1997
Betty Baer died at home, on September 10, 2014, with many of her closest family present. Betty was born in Somerset, PA to Sarah Margaret Roby Baer and William J. Baer. She was the third of five children.
Betty's accomplishments were many, but she believed that the most significant were to her family members, especially her nieces and nephews; the many students for whom she was such a remarkable role model and mentor, and the numerous community social justice issues and programs in which she was involved. Betty was a professor and chair of the UW-Green Bay's Department in Social Work, helping to found and advance that program until her retirement in 1997. Prior to that, she was pivotal in growing the baccalaureate social work education programs at West Virginia State University and the Westchester (NY) Social Work Consortium.
She received her baccalaureate degree from West Virginia State University, an MSW from Syracuse University, and PhD in social welfare policy from University of Pittsburgh.
Betty is survived by her partner of 32 years, Ann L. McLean; sister, Jacqueline Coffroth, Seattle; brothers, Thomas Baer, Somerset, PA, and Richard Baer, Osage, IA; many nieces and nephews, whom she considered her most special gift, and numerous special friends across the country. She was preceded in death by a brother, William Baer of Bedford, PA, and her parents.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 347 S. Libal, De Pere; visitation is at 10:30 a.m.; the service is at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a scholarship recently established in Betty's name by a former student. To contribute to the Dr. Betty Baer Endowed Scholarship, visitwww.uwgb.edu/foundation or send contributions in her name to UW-Green Foundation, 2420 Nicolet Drive, CL 805, Green Bay, WI 54311.
(Reprinted with permission from Rhonda Raleigh, Executive Assistant to the President & Publisher, Green Bay Press-Gazette.)
Baer obituary shares news of student scholarship
(Published Sept. 12, 2014, Log newsletter, UW-Green Bay)
Former UW-Green Bay Prof. of Social Work Betty L. Baer died earlier this week after a lengthy illness. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 13) followed by an 11:30 memorial service at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church (located across from De Pere High School). The obituary notes that, “In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a scholarship recently established in Betty's name by a former student. To contribute to the Dr. Betty Baer Endowed Scholarship, visit the UW-Green Bay website or send contributions in her name to the UW-Green Bay Foundation, 2420 Nicolet Drive, CL 805, Green Bay, WI 54311. A more detailed account of Baer’s life and career can be found at the University news site.