BANGOR – Betsey Brewster Case, 68, died unexpectedly Nov. 17, 2010, at her home. She was born April 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., to Mildred and Charles Brewster. Betsey was an accomplished lawyer and philanthropist, as well as a loving sister, aunt and friend. She graduated from Bangor High School in 1960. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 from Wellesley College. She went on to earn her law degree at Ohio State University in 1968, where she graduated with summa cum laude honors. In her professional career, Betsey was a clerk for the ninth circuit court of appeals in San Francisco and went on to become a partner with the Cleveland law firm of Thompson, Hine and Flory, where she specialized in mergers and acquisitions. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her late teens, Betsey began the philanthropic part of her life when she became an active volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation for more than 30 years, eventually rising to become the organization’s first woman chair of the board of directors and also receiving their highest honor – the Charles Harding Award in 1991. Betsey returned from Cleveland to her family home in Bangor in 1992, where she became active in several civic organizations including P.E.O., Maine Humanities Council and Friends of the Blaine House. She was a Renaissance woman who loved literature and the arts, traveling, playing bridge, watching sports and snuggling with her kitties. She was a true Mainer and enjoyed visiting all parts of the state, especially Moosehead Lake, where she had a summer cottage and Mount Desert Island, where she often visited with family and friends. She was also a connoisseur of red hot dogs and bacon, despite being a vegetarian. Betsey is survived by her brother, Whitmore “Buz” Brewster and his wife, Terri Brewster; her nieces, Pamela and Jessica Brewster; her nephews, Joshua and his wife, Libby Brewster, and Zachary Brewster; and her great-nieces, Abigail and Claire Brewster, all of whom reside in California; as well as her former husband and friend, William L. Case III of Olympia, Wash. Betsey was predeceased by her parents, Mildred and Charles Brewster of Bangor; her nephew, Jacob Brewster of Williams, Calif.; and her grandparents, Dorothy and Owen Brewster, the former governor, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Maine. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with Jacqueline MacDermott officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the service. If you are interested in remembering Betsey, gifts in her memory may be sent to Arthritis Foundation Maine Region, 201 Main St., Westbrook, ME 04092. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
BETSEY BREWSTER CASE
