
After Betsy Hall moved to the South End in 1997, it did not take long for her to make an impact on her new neighborhood.
Hall joined the Ellis Neighborhood Association upon moving to the South End and for the next quarter century took on a number of different positions and responsibilities in the community.
Hall passed away in recent weeks after battling an infection.
“She
was always the mastermind behind neighborhood events,” said Jennifer
Girvin, who got to know Hall when working on the board of the
neighborhood association.
Girvin described Hall as a leader who loved the South End.
“[Hall] was someone you could rely on for just about anything, especially when it came to the neighborhood,” said Girvin.
Hall,
who once served as the president of the Ellis Neighborhood Association,
came up with the idea of the community newsletter and used to write
them herself.
Girvin said Hall made a strong effort to keep the community informed on neighborhood happenings.
“She
brought people together and made sure all opinions were heard, which is
very important for a neighborhood association,” said Randi Lathrop, a
former president of Ellis Neighborhood Association.
Lathrop
said Hall also would ensure that there was always an open line of
communication between the neighborhood and city officials.
“She
was usually quiet in meetings but was one of the smartest people in the
room,” said Girvin of Hall. “She had good judgment about things.”
After
spending years serving in a number of different positions in the
association, Girvin said that Hall stayed involved, becoming a mentor
for others who had joined the board of directors.
“She was someone who people consulted with questions, guidance and history,” said Girvin.
Lathrop described Hall as “a fixture” of the Ellis Neighborhood Association and said she was very well liked.
In 2018, Hall received the association’s Arthur Howe Award.
The
award is given to an individual who improves the quality of life while
preserving the character of Boston's Unique and Historic South End,
according to the Ellis Neighborhood Association website.
“I loved Betsy. She has tenacity and worked hard for many years,” said Lathrop. “She was gregarious and determined.”
Outside of the association, Hall enjoyed good food, fine wine and her pet cats.
She
served as the executive director for the Associates of the Boston
Public Library for 19 years. “Our thoughts are with her family and the
many friends who loved her here in the South End,” read an Ellis
Neighborhood Association release. “Betsy gave so much to this
neighborhood, and she will be missed.”