Obituary of Betsy Anne Northrup

WESTFIELD - Betsy (Elizabeth) Anne Northrup, age 79, of Westfield, NY, passed away on March 27, 2016, at the Westfield Memorial Hospital, following an extended and courageous struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, or PSP, a rare neurodegenerative disease. Betsy was born on December 11, 1936, a daughter of the late Robert R. Northrup, MD, and Anne Elizabeth (Smither) Northrup. Dr. Northrup was a well known family physician in Westfield. She graduated from Westfield Academy and Central Schools in 1954, as Salutatorian of her class. During her high school years, she spent several happy summers at New England Music Camp in Oakland, Maine, where she was awarded Honor Musician and Honor Camper. Upon graduating from high school, Betsy attended Cornell University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1958. At Cornell, she was a flutist in the Cornell Orchestra, and the lead singer in "Amahl and the Night Visitors". She then received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from SUNY Fredonia in 1960. She moved to Boston and was involved with music as a teacher at the Kodaly Music Institute, and as an administrator at the Haynes Flute Company. She was the devoted companion of Robert J. Lurtsema, well known classical music expert, narrator, and commentator for WGBH. Upon Robert J.'s death, she returned in 2007 to the family home in Westfield, where she had lived until her passing. In Westfield she enjoyed Rotary Club, New Horizons Band, and the Quaker Friends Meeting. She also enjoyed WNED Classical Music and listening to the opera on Saturday afternoons. Betsy is survived by her dog, Mike, and her cat, Margie. She is also survived by her brother, Robert S. Northrup, MD (Quincy) of Ann Arbor, MI, and by her sister Sherry Northrup Tyler (David, MD) of Fayetteville, NY, and by several nieces and nephews. The family is deeply grateful for the loyal care and friendship of Laura Ondreako, the devotion and help of Martin Burdett, and the friendship of Mary Holton and Janice Wilson. We are also thankful for the care and professionalism of the Emergency Responders of the Westfield Fire Department, and of the physicians and nurses at Westfield Memorial Hospital. Friends may call at the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton Street, Westfield, on Saturday, April 23, 2016, from 3-5 pm, followed by a Quaker Meeting at 5:30pm. Private burial will be in Westfield Cemetery. Memorial Donations may be made to the Patterson Library, 40 South Portage St., Westfield, NY 14787 or to the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation, 189 East Main St., Westfield, NY 14787. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Northrup family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial candle or for further information.