Sue’s Eulogy

Sue Dadd, Betsey’s Longtime Friend and MFA Colleague

My name is Sue Dadd—a.k.a. “Suellen” Dadd, an old friend of Betsey’s (about 45 years), and also a fellow guide at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I have many memories of good times with Betsey over the years, and Ronnie asked me to say a few words today from both perspectives–but most especially to convey the message to all those from the MFA how very much being part of it meant to Betsey. And so I am delivering that message—and many of my friends and colleagues are here today to receive it.

Betsey announced a few years ago that she was retiring from teaching. I said, “Betsey, do I have a job for you.” By that time I had been guiding for a few years at the MFA, and had bent her ear many times about how much I loved it, etc. It was an easy sell. Betsey applied, was accepted, and had been leading tours for the past two years.

I was so very moved when Ronnie called and asked me to speak—just a day after Betsey passed away—that in his time of grief he thought to reach out to us. Thinking about that, I wanted to say to Ronnie and the boys how very much Betsey gave to all of us at the Museum. To cite one example: she organized an enrichment session in which she led her fellow guides through the Art of Asia collection. Presenting objects as she does on tours, she also included historical background—which she knew because of her work as a teacher of Asian History at Newton North High School. This session is still talked about; in fact, Betsey had agreed to repeat the enrichment for another group of guides in the upcoming winter term.

Because many of my friends and colleagues knew that Betsey and I were old friends, a number of messages of condolence were sent to me. I wish to quote from one—from a friend who has many talents, among them being a great writer. Here is some of what she wrote about Betsey: “She contributed so much to the guides, both through her extensive knowledge which helped many of us understand and appreciate Asian art all the more; and with her gentle, kind, and unassuming manner which endeared her to everyone. We were all very fortunate to have known her.” I can’t say it any better.