Hamden Hall Inaugural Endowed Chair Honors Betty Lou Blumberg

It is with great pleasure that Hamden Hall Country Day School announces the establishment of The Betty Lou Blumberg Endowed Chair of English.

This honor commemorates Betty Lou's 30 years of teaching at Hamden Hall (1971 - 2001) and her dedication to our school and to her students.

In the words of her former students, “Mrs. Blumberg was an irrepressible force at Hamden Hall—sharing her passion, empathy, and wisdom with generations of students. For 30 years, she made an impact on so many of our lives. Her passion for English and great literature, especially Shakespeare, was legendary. And through her teaching and advising, she made us better writers and thinkers.”

The fundraising for the Endowed Chair began last November and has truly been a community affair! Alumni, current and former faculty and parents, and Betty Lou’s family and friends all came together to spread the word of our initial fundraising goal of $100,000.

Joe Blumberg, Betty Lou’s husband who has guided the project with tender loving care since the get-go, wanted to keep the Endowed Chair a surprise and announce it in July at an observance of her 80th birthday. However, Betty Lou has now been made aware of the initiative.

Joe joins Hamden Hall’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations in thanking all those who have signed letters, made calls, emailed, and posted on Facebook in helping us continue to reach our goal. Once the $100,000 is raised, it will provide the basis of the endowment that will grow over time. The interest income will be used to sustain Betty Lou Blumberg’s legacy by hosting events including writing workshops, speakers, and other relevant programs at Hamden Hall. As the fund grows, we will be able to support a part-time English faculty position and over time, fund a full-time teaching salary for a Faculty member in the English Department.

We hope you will join with the impressive list of donors who have stepped up to honor Betty Lou (see link below). A donor party in July will celebrate the ongoing fundraising and mark Betty Lou’s milestone birthday as well (invitations will be mailed).

For more information about the Chair or to make your gift, please call the Hamden Hall Development office at 203.752.2616 or click here to make a gift online.

Thank you!

—Jodi Amatulli