Betty C. Srere, longtime resident of Pelham Manor, NY, and Greenwich, CT, passed away on July 9. She was 91.
Born in NYC, Betty was the eldest child of Melvin F. Cerruti and Grace Smart Cerruti, and sister to Nancy Humphreys and Jim Cerruti. Betty graduated from Pelham Memorial High School and Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA. Following her graduation, Betty held corporate positions with Time, Inc., UPI International, and IBM.
Betty and her husband, Benson M. Srere, wed in 1957 and settled back in Pelham Manor, NY, in 1960, where they raised their family. Betty was predeceased by her husband in 2018 and is survived by her three children: David (of Pelham Manor, NY), Anne (of Hartsdale, NY), and Peter and daughter-in-law Ginny (of Scarsdale, NY). Betty is also survived by her five “perfect grandchildren,” as she described them: Amanda, Michael, Jack, Katharine, and William.
Betty’s life was a testament to her dedication to family, service to the community, and kindness to all.
She loved and was fiercely protective of her husband. In their retirement years they enjoyed extensive and frequent travel, as well as more local pursuits with their wide circle of friends. She was the consummate mother to her three children: always there to support them, always interested in what and how they were doing, and always insistent that they understand and work to help those less fortunate than they. As both a mother and a friend, Betty had the unique ability to make everyone she spoke to feel like they were the most important person in the world.
Betty’s success as a stay-at-home mother was mirrored by her impact on the Town of Pelham. In this regard, Betty was truly ahead of her time. Over a 40+-year period, she served as Founder of the Pelham Youth Center, Chairman of the Pelham Guidance Council, Vice President of the Pelham Board of Education, and Founding President of the Pelham Day Care Center. Betty also volunteered as a tutor for Literacy Volunteers of Mount Vernon, NY, and as broadcaster for InTouch Networks, serving the needs of the blind.
The significance of Betty’s contributions to the Town of Pelham is reflected in the many accolades she received, among them: Resolution of Merit from the Pelham Board of Education (1978); Men’s Club of Pelham’s Citizen of the Year (1978-78); Resolution of Merit from the Pelham Day Care Center (1980); Resolution of Merit from the Pelham Guidance Council (1982); and the Thomas B. Fenlon Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, presented by the Pelham Board of Education (1983). Betty was also a longtime member of Rotary International and was recognized by that organization as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Most important of all were the strengths Betty brought to the world every day: her unwavering optimism, desire to mentor and be mentored by others, strength in times of adversity, bias towards action that made a positive impact, burning determination to help others who needed it, and her ability to engage with, listen to, and collaborate with people with whom she disagreed.
Friends are invited to visit the family for a memorial gathering on Thursday, September 26, from 3 to 7pm at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT 06830.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home.
