Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating Students in PreSchool Through Grade 12
Educating Students in PreSchool Through Grade 12
News Detail
Barbara Beitch, Past Parent, Former Faculty
Barbara Beitch of Hamden, died suddenly on November 24. She was 84.
Barbara Beitch of Hamden, died suddenly on November 24. She was 84. Barbara was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, and grew up in Oak Ridge, Tenn. She is survived by her husband Richard Yanowitz, her brother Joel Rose, several grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, step-children, and a step-grandson. Barbara was predeceased by her first husband, Irwin Beitch, her daughter Deborah Beitch Jenness, Hamden Hall Class of 1982, and her son Rick Beitch, Hamden Hall Class of 1983.
Barbara established funds at Hamden Hall in memory of both of her children. Monies from the Deborah Beitch Jenness 1982 Memorial Fund are allocated annually to Lower School programming and activities. Monies from the Rick Beitch 1983 Memorial Fund supports Scholarships at Hamden Hall. To make a donation to either of these funds, please click here.
Barbara received a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Virginia and taught Biology at Hamden Hall from 1970 to 2004. She was an accomplished pianist, traveler, and an avid scuba diver. She was a docent at the Yale Peabody Museum and active in the Sleeping Giant Association.
The Hamden Hall community is saddened by the loss of Barbara and extends deep condolences to the family.
Continue reading for full obituary.
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Barbara established funds at Hamden Hall in memory of both of her children. Monies from the Deborah Beitch Jenness 1982 Memorial Fund are allocated annually to Lower School programming and activities. Monies from the Rick Beitch 1983 Memorial Fund supports Scholarships at Hamden Hall. To make a donation to either of these funds, please click here.
Barbara received a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Virginia and taught Biology at Hamden Hall from 1970 to 2004. She was an accomplished pianist, traveler, and an avid scuba diver. She was a docent at the Yale Peabody Museum and active in the Sleeping Giant Association.
The Hamden Hall community is saddened by the loss of Barbara and extends deep condolences to the family.
Continue reading for full obituary.
Barbara Beitch (she/her), 84, of Hamden, CT, died suddenly on November 24, 2023, of a massive brain hemorrhage. Born in Jersey City, NJ, on March 2, 1939, she grew up in Oak Ridge, TN, where her father worked as a nuclear physicist.
After receiving a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Virginia, Barbara forged a career as biology teacher at Hamden Hall Country Day School from 1970 to 2004, where her contributions included creating and teaching a program on human sexuality and initiating a student LGBTQ group. The school's biology lab is named after her. Numerous students continue to express adoration for her, a number credit her with inspiring them to pursue medical careers. After retirement she taught biology as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University.
She was an accomplished pianist and lover of music, and enjoyed ballroom dancing. She traveled widely and scuba-dived around the world. She was a docent at the Yale Peabody Museum and active with the Sleeping Giant Association. She was a determined feminist, gardener and lover of nature, and advocate for social justice. She had no religion and liked to say she worshipped at the library.
She is survived by her second husband, Richard Yanowitz, brother, Joel Rose and his children, sister-in-law, Pamela Rose, grandchildren Sarah Jenness, Andy Jenness, and Miranda Palomino, great-grandson Jacob Eagins, grandson-in-law, Marty LaFleur, stepson Jason Yanowitz, step-grandchildren Avery and Izzy Yanowitz, and numerous cousins. Her son, Rick Beitch, daughter, Debbie Beitch Jenness, and first husband, Irwin Beitch, died before her.
A memorial will be January 6, 11am, at Hamden Hall. For donations, her numerous favorite organizations included the Trevor Society, ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, Earth Justice, Deborah Beitch Jenness Hamden Hall Scholarship Fund, and IRIS.
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
