Elizabeth B. Sanderson

     Elizabeth Barber Sanderson, 100, died peacefully of natural causes on Sept. 23,2024, surrounded by her loving children.    Betsy was born to Dr Walter and Kathleen Barber in March of 1924, sister to older brother Craig, growing up in Wolcott, Ct.  Both her father and grandfather were doctors and she always knew she wanted a career in healthcare.  After graduating from Wellesley in 1945 and being accepted to Columbia medical school, she chose instead to get a nursing degree at Yale in support of the war effort.   Betsy married Benjaman (Sandy) Sanderson a former WWII navy pilot in 1952 and worked as a nurse while he completed his PHD in chemistry.  
    Over the next 6 years, 4 children (David, Kathy, Jack, and Peter) joined the family, and Betsy brought order to the chaos with her many organizational skills.  From her youth Betsy had an adventurous spirit and loved the outdoors.  Sanderson family vacations involved loading the whole crew into the VW bus for hiking, camping, canoe, and ski adventures.  

     When her youngest went to school Betsy returned to work at Monmouth Medical Center, a 600-bed teaching hospital, in an administrative nursing role.   She proved to be a talented administrator, over the years adding additional departments to her responsibilities, and ultimately rose to chief operating officer of Monmouth Medical Center.  In the 70’s it was rare to find a woman in executive roles.  She was an inspiring and dedicated leader who was respected and praised by trustees, doctors, nurses, and support personnel alike.   Having worked overnight shifts as a nurse, Betsy understood that hospitals were 24/7 operations and would sometimes work an overnight shift visiting the night staff who had never seen an administrator, much less one who cared about their needs. 

    Betsy had a lifelong love of tennis and played regularly up to her nineties.  Sandy and Betsy traveled extensively to Europe, Australia, Japan and even Antarctica, often including bike tours and skiing into their trips.  They enjoyed visiting their children and 7 grandchildren.  Starting in 2002, the whole family gathered on Squam lake in NH each August for 21 years until Betsy could no longer make the trip.  

    After retiring, Betsy and Sandy moved in 1996 to the continuing care center Kendal at Hanover NH.   Betsy built lasting friendships and a rich life at Kendal for 28 years.  When Sandy developed Parkinson’s Betsy helped care for him until his passing in 2011.  

    Sadly, over the last couple of years Betsy developed dementia and moved from independent living, to assisted living and finally to nursing care.   Her family is eternally grateful to all the staff at Kendal for the loving care she and Sandy received over many years. 

    Betsy lived a long and full life.    She was an inspiration to all who knew her and will be deeply missed by her family and the many others whose lives she touched. 

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