Betty Ann Wolf

Betty Ann Wolf (1927 – 2025), age 97, passed away on Feb. 24, 2025, surrounded by her family. Preceded in death by her husband, Leon L. Wolf, mother, Helene Glas, and father, Walter E. Glas Sr., brother, Walter E. Glas Jr., sister-in-law, Barbara Glas, nephew, Jim Glas, sister-in-law, Denise Guthridge. Survived by daughters Betsy Wolf, Jo Wolf, Peggy Wolf (Margaret Ward), Kate Wolf (Toshy Rosenblatt), and Julie Wolf (Cici Kinsman), niece Susan Glas, nephew, Andy Glas, and niece, Erica Guthridge, cousins, Bettie Heinsheimer and Nancy Blase.

A Cincinnatian for most of her life, then a Seattleite for her second chapter starting at age 85, she was a mother, a career pre-school teacher, a dedicated volunteer in tireless support of causes near and dear to her, a core of her communities, a formidable fundraiser and event planner, a trusted friend, a profound lover of music and the arts, an unforgettable human being with a curiosity and zest for life. Till the very end, she could always be counted on to burst out in song or join along. Her daughters were her greatest joy. She was a light in the world with her humor and her kind intelligence. Beloved. Capturing her in a paragraph is nearly impossible. She will be loved and missed by so many, forever. Celebrations will be held in Cincinnati and in Seattle at a future date tbd (and will be updated in this post). Memorial contributions to Kline Galland Hospice, The Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts, or the Southern Poverty Law Center would be appreciated.

She was also a wonderful writer. Here in her own words are several bios with photos which she submitted for several college reunions and the resident bio book at Ida Culver House Broadview, her home for the last 12 years of her life.

Written by Betty Ann Wolf in her own words

Written in August, 2020
For Ida Culver House Broadview Resident Book

Born in Cincinnati April 28, 1927, Betty Ann is a lifelong supporter of the arts, and loyal to family and friends.

Both sides of her family arrived in the US in the 19th century from Germany and Alsace-Lorraine. Her father was called home from University of Michigan Law School to take over the family's wholesale produce business, and her mother, a graduate of University of Cincinnati with an MA in mathematics from Columbia, worked as an office manager. Betty Ann’s brother, Walter, was 14 months her elder.

Betty Ann graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1945, rated by Newsweek as the best public high school in Ohio, and then, having enrolled in an accelerated program, graduated from Vassar College in 1948 with a BA in Early Childhood Development. She married Leon Wolf in 1948, who entered law school, then practiced law.

Betty Ann’s career included teaching public school kindergarten and as a social worker for Aid to Dependent Children, Aid to the Blind and General Relief. She then birthed five daughters in 1951, 1954, 1957, and 1966 (twins).

In 1964 she began teaching pre-school part time, and resumed 1971-2000. In 1973, public S.C.P.A was founded as a magnet school to avoid desegregation busing, where she volunteered for 40 years. She also enjoyed much international travel from 1966-2011.

In 2004 Betty Ann became a guide at the new National Underground Railroad Freedom Center where she heard John Lewis, John Kerry, The Dalai Lama, Angela Davis, Laura Bush among others. Widowed in October 2011, she moved to Ida Culver in February 2013 to be near four of her daughters.

Written in 2009
For Vassar 60th Reunion 2009

Q: How is life treating you in your 80s? Do you still live independently or have you moved along the spectrum toward a care-giving facility?
Leon and I live in the only house we ever bought in 1955. IN the last of the 60’s our neighborhood became racially integrated. It is spoken of as the best area for diversity in Cincinnati. We enjoy a very social planning neighborhood association.

Q: What do you do to promote joy in your life and keep your mind and body healthy? (E.g. swimming, tennis, fitness class, community work, bridge, taking or teaching courses, creative or performance activities, etc.)
To wake up my mind daily, I tackle cryptoquips and sudoku with breakfast. I am very interested in my volunteer work at our public School for Creative and Performing Arts, as well as our National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. In summer, I go to tennis clinic four mornings a week, and year round I get to Jazzercise three times a week. We attend many musical, stage and ballet performances, as well as going to museums. And, of course, reading is a pleasure.

Q: Any other thoughts or information you wish to share?
In September, six of our family enjoyed a week-long trip to Egypt, including three nights and days on a boat cruising the Nile. We travel frequently. I volunteered for Obama since last spring, and Leon was a poll observer on 11/04. We are absolutely thrilled about his election. Not only did Ohio finally go Democratic, but so did our Hamilton County, always known previously as a weather-van of Republican voting throughout the U.S.

Written in spring 1999
For Vassar 50th Reunion

Shortly after graduation from Vassar, Leon and I were married on August 8, 1948. He entered Law School and I taught kindergarten for one year, then did social work for a year and a half until the first of our five daughters was born. The last of the Wolf cubs were a pair of twins born in 1966. Until they entered kindergarten I was a stay-at-home mom, doing volunteer work in special nursery schools. From 1972 through the present I have taught nursery school three or four mornings a week. Since 1975 I have volunteered at our School for Creative and Performing Arts, a public magnet school attended by our twins. Currently I am again president of the Friends of the School for Creative and Performing Arts. I attend most of our city’s arts functions and volunteer for some. I have been active in our Vassar Club and in a music club.

We travel a great deal in the U.S. to see our children and internationally for pleasure. I am in good health, same size as in ‘48 and enjoy aerobics and tennis.

Vassar reunions are fun!

Written about Betty Ann Wolf

From the April 28, 2014 Cincinnati Enquirer article Rocky Carrol, supporters in 1st SCPA Hall of Fame class

Betty Ann Wolf and her late husband, Leon Wolf, were involved in SCPA from its inception. Leon Wolf drafted the original documents to establish the Friends of SCPA, a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports the school. Betty Ann Wolf recently moved out of state to be near her daughters, but continued to be an active volunteer up until her move. She is currently a Trustee Emeritus for the Friends of SCPA, the only person to have that honor.