Betsy Samuelson Greer

Betsy Greer, age 80, passed away in the comfort of her own home surrounded by her family on November 3, 2019. Betsy was born on May 4th, 1939 in Burlington, Vermont to loving parents: the late Myron and Lilian (Cohen) Samuelson.

Betsy received her degree from Oberlin College and Conservatory in 1961 in Ohio. She spent her early career working as a reporter in Montpelier, VT and Philadelphia and then a congressional aide to U.S. Senators George Aiken and Patrick Leahy. In partnership with her late husband of 21 years, Richard T. Greer, she became a passionate advocate for individuals with mental illness as a volunteer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For thirty years, Betsy has worked tirelessly to improve mental health services at the community level. She has also served on the Arlington Community Services Board and Friends of Clarendon House. She was a long-standing member of the Kol Ami, The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community. In her leisure time she enjoyed tennis, golf, scrabble, cards, and traveling.
She is survived by her loving sister, Miriam Samuelson and six stepchildren: Kimberly Faydra, Teresa Greer, Gretchen Greer, Martha Averso (Dave), Sarah Snowdon (Corey), and Richard Greer; seven grandchildren, and a great granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA on Thursday, November 21 at 2pm. Reception to immediately follow. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to NAMI Virginia or Kol Ami, The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community.