Betty C. Van Buskirk

An Inspiration To Many

Betty Caulkins Van Buskirk, 88, died April 2 in Laguna Niguel, Calif. Mrs Van Buskirk was born on June 23, 1918, in Washington D.C.

She was the mother of Peter C. Van Buskirk of Newtown and Kate Rogers, formerly of Newtown.

Mrs Van Buskirk had a very active and full life that included public service, music, teaching, and many loving friends and family. Her early years were spent in a variety of places, including Berkeley, Cincinnati, and Scarsdale, N.Y. Although their family moved frequently due to her father’s work in public school recreation, they always had a piano, and this was the beginning of her lifelong love affair with music.

Mrs Van Buskirk graduated from Bronxville High School in 1935, and went on to Mount Holyoke, where she earned a degree in history in 1939, Phi Beta Kappa. That summer she traveled to Europe as a graduation gift from a family friend. Their trip was cut short, as war with Germany was imminent.

 She then attended Radcliffe and received a master’s degree in music in 1942. In 1943 she joined the American Red Cross as recreation director, and was stationed at the US 7th General Hospital in London. In this capacity, she would play the piano and sing songs requested by the wounded soldiers on the wards. It was there that she met her future husband, Dick Van Buskirk, who had been wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war she had a variety of jobs, including music consultant to Silver-Burdett publishing company, and junior high music teacher in Boston. She married Richard D. Van Buskirk (Dick) in 1952 and settled in Fairfield, Conn., where she was a music teacher at Tomlinson Junior High, North Stratfield, and Jennings Schools. Among her many activities was “Time Club,” a women’s group that met biweekly for more than 25 years to discuss current events. It was the inspiration for a similar group that presently meets in Newtown.

In 1979 she and her husband retired to Tryon, N.C., where she lived for 27 years. During her “retirement,” Mrs Van Buskirk was extremely active in her community, directing the musical program at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, participating in the Foothills Music Club, volunteering at the Outreach Ministry and Literacy Volunteers, performing in many Gilbert and Sullivan productions, doing Great Books Club, etc. Each week she gathered with dear friends and played piano-violin-flute musical works for fun. She was a regular at the local aerobics class. Mrs Van Buskirk lived fully in each and every moment, inspiring many.

Her twin children, Kate Rogers of Laguna Beach, Calif., and Peter Van Buskirk of Newtown; her sister Mary Johnson of Pomona, Calif.; and her beloved grandchildren, Elisa, Dana, Sara, Lily, Ben, and William survive Mrs Van Buskirk. She was predeceased by her husband and her brother, David Caulkins.

Mrs Van Buskirk will always be warmly remembered as a lover of ideas, music, and people. She made an indelible impression on the many people whose lives she touched.

There will be a memorial service May 17 at 10 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, Pequot Avenue, Southport.

Donations in Mrs Van Buskirk’s memory may be made to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church to help their music program. They may be sent c/o Peter Van Buskirk, 18 Poverty Hollow, Newtown CT 06470.

The Newtown Bee        April 6, 2007