Meet Past CVRA Leader: Betsey Miller
By Jim Haskins
Betsey Miller was born in Rochester, New York, on Saint Patrick’s Day. While her hair was red, she was of Scottish, not Irish descent. After graduating from John Marshall High School in 1958 (from which CV resident Jack Fassett had previously graduated), Betsey majored in Religion at Vassar College.
Dave and Betsey met in Poughkeepsie, married in 1963, and lived in Brooklyn Heights while he worked as a CPA at Price Waterhouse in N.Y. City. During that time, Betsey earned a Master’s Degree in New Testament Studies at Drew University.
Later, they moved to Wayne, New Jersey, where Dave worked for American Cyanamid and they brought up three children (with now eight grandchildren and one greatgrandchild) in Pines Lake.
They enjoyed a six-year stint in Cincinnati, Ohio, when Dave was controller for Formica Company (owned by Cyanamid). In New Jersey, when the youngest went off to college, Betsey worked as Data Processing Manager at a local law firm. Her job was to ensure that the 24 attorneys stopped dictating to their secretaries and used computers. “It was a challenging but rewarding experience,” says Betsey.
In 1995 the couple retired and moved to Lake Norman. In 2005, they visited Croasdaile Village and signed up for one of the new cottages to be built on Boles Lake. They wanted to be near Dave’s oncologist at Duke, and moved into their cottage in January 2007.
The first neighbor they met was Dottie Waters, and they knew right away they’d be happy here! Dave and Mike Kearsey organized a neighborhood poker group, which he enjoyed. He also started gathering with fellow Marines (served five years). They looked forward to eating in the dining room with friends every evening. Betsey got involved with the CV Residents’ Association, served as Vice President and President, and then on the Finance Committee.
Says Betsey, “I feel fortunate that Dave (deceased on Christmas Eve 2017) and I had ten wonderful
years together here at Croasdaile. I enjoy living in our cottage on the lake with my two cats, Harry and Meggie, attending Yoga class and other activities, and especially all the wonderful residents and staff here at Croasdaile who make up this exceptional community.”
The Betsey and David Miller Aerobics room was named for the couple in October 2017 as part of a pledge to the UMRH Mind, Body, and Soul Campaign here at Croasdaile.
