CORD is grieving today.
Our friend, partner, collaborator Bette Stoltz has passed.
It is with a truly heavy heart that we inform that our wonderful mentor, champion and dear friend, the irreplaceable, Bette Stoltz, has passed.
Bette was a tireless crusader--whether it was breathing life back into a Smith Street that was drowning, turning a slab of concrete into a beautiful garden, or bringing a program to our local schools--she took an idea and ran with it until that idea was a reality.
Bette is the reason there is a Second Place Transit Garden. She was presented with a kernel of an idea and with her energy, sensibility, drive and cheerful go-gettedness--and beautiful garden was born.
Bette worked with CORD from its inception--her advice, her wisdom her willingness to share these things with us helped us in so many ways.
When the Gowanus Canal was first named as a possible site to be Superfunded, Bette eagerly became part of our South Brooklyn Coalition---probably the largest group of volunteer organizations ever put together---Bette representing the only not for profit group in the bunch.
Bette could do it all. She could make the connections needed to begin a project and then, bring in those who could make the whole thing even better.
She was so competent you just felt that she could do the whole job completely with her "roll up your sleeves" approach to everything she did, but yet, she made you happily want to help out too.
Mostly though, Bette was just so genuine--there was no guile, no false smiles. She was a doer, an inspiration and a true friend.
Bette was warm, honest, generous and reliable. She was fun and funny, wise but not hardened and always willing to give more of herself ---all you had to do was ask.
We will certainly be thinking of Bette every time we are on Smith Street and each time we see the Transit Garden--- she did so much for our community in such a humble and non grandstanding manner.
We will remember all of those things and take them as a lesson in how to live a truly civic minded, concerned, compassionate, well loved and fruitful life.
The Transit Garden stands there-- a real, live, warm,welcoming place you can count on—is just like the lady Bette was herself.
So, whatever you believe, whatever your custom---keep Bette and her family close to you today.
Goodbye, Bette. You will be sorely missed.
CORD Co-founders,
Lucy DeCarlos, Rita Miller, Triada Samaras
