Elizabeth “Betsy” Reeves, a resident of Los Altos since 1958, now living at a senior residence in Santa Cruz, crossed the century mark Oct. 22. Reeves celebrated her big birthday with family, including granddaughters visiting from Los Angeles.
Born in Berkeley, she graduated from UC Berkeley and notes that her grandfather was among Cal’s first graduating class in 1873.
Reeves’ husband A. Robert DeHart was the founding president at De Anza College in 1967 until 1992; he died in 1993.
The couple had three sons, Dave, Rob, and Don – who grew up in Los Altos – and five grandchildren.
Reeves had a long career as a schoolteacher in the Sunnyvale School District and is still “smart as a whip,” according to son Rob DeHart.
DeHart said she also had many hobbies, including bridge and a book club/swap, and was an avid walker until her early 90s. She also co-founded the Grant Park senior center.
Asked if she ever passed along her tips for successful aging, DeHart said she advised to “keep meeting new people” – especially younger people since at her age, most friends in her generation have passed. Some of those younger Los Altos friends still come to visit her in Santa Cruz.
DeHart’s wife Kathleen added that another thing Reeves recommended was to “always be curious,” about everything from politics to nature.
