Betty Ann Abbatemarco
Betty Ann had been hired in 1984 in a part-time, temporary position to handle administrative duties for the Undergraduate Program but transitioned to permanent status within a year and subsequently became a full-time manager of both the Undergraduate and Graduate programs, handling course scheduling and graduate admissions. She remained with the department for 27 years, retiring in 2011. Most of this time she worked in conjunction with the senior departmental administrators including Elaine Gordon, Theresa Kirby, and Kelly Bernstein, among others.
Betty Ann’s long tenure allowed her to experience changing working conditions and different departmental administrators. For example, she remembers the early days when professors submitted handwritten exams that were sometimes challenging to read and then had to be typed by the staff and run off on (smudge-prone) mimeograph machines. Thankfully, in the 1990s typewriters gave way to computers, a switch that she approached with some trepidation, but which eventually made the job much easier. With the development of data bases everything was done on the computer; scheduling needs, online submission of final grades instead of hand delivery, and checking on students’ progress, among other tasks.
Betty Ann’s willingness to tackle any challenge and her speed and efficiency in discharging them were legendry among the faculty. A former faculty colleague with experience across several universities put the matter in a nutshell “I could never under any circumstances, imagine hearing from Mrs. Abbatemarco what one hears so often elsewhere “sorry, but that isn’t in my job description.”
Fortunately the job also had other compensations from which she derived great pleasure. On one occasion she got to shake the hand of President Clinton when she was taken to a meeting that he attended on campus by one of the professors (Susan Cutter) who had a seat near the podium. On other occasions she enjoyed the parade of TV crews and reporters who came to interview faculty members, especially David Robinson, the State Climatologist. She also reported being impressed by many of the students, some of whom she continued to be in contact with after her retirement and she had especially warm feelings for professors who made the staff feel at ease. In her own words: “The Department of Geography had a bunch of great people working there, both faculty and students. Hence, that is why I never left and spent 27 years there.” (From Ken Mitchell's history of the Rutgers Geography Department).
Obituary from the Costello-Runyon Funeral Home: https://www.costello-runyon.com/obituaries/Elizabeth-Abbatemarco?obId=46721521
Elizabeth Ann (Byrne) Abbatemarco passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, after an 8 month journey with Pancreatic Cancer. Up until the end, Elizabeth maintained her kindness, grace, compassion, love of family and friends, and expressed gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences and memories.
Elizabeth’s life can be best encapsulated by the four “ F” words: Family, Friends, Food, and Fun. In her almost 79 years here with us she experienced an abundance of each.
Elizabeth spent her early years in East Orange NJ. She was born July 18, 1947 to the late Elizabeth Catherine and Luke John Byrne. She was the baby of the family to the tightest group of “SIBS” Luke Byrne, Genevieve Zecchino and Rosemary Byrne. In January 1968 she met Ruggiero (Reg, Reggie) and she knew then that she had met the person whom she would build a family. Married in September 1972 Elizabeth and Ruggiero maintained a loving and supportive marriage of 53 years. Together they raised two sons, Jason and Ruggiero. Their family became extended with the additions of “Daughters” Christine and Angela. Elizabeth received the glory of a new role as grandmother as she took on the moniker of “Nanny” She made it a point to be as engaged as possible with her grandchildren Rebecca, Aurora, Ruggiero, Brendan, Lucianna, and Connor. It started with being present at the hospital to welcome them each into the world, to babysitting, to calling each birthday morning to singing happy birthday, birthday get-togethers, school events, extracurriculars. Elizabeth delighted in her grandchildren as much if not more than she did in raising her own children. Her heart so big she acquired her “Adopted Children”Kim, and Mike.
Elizabeth cherished her friendships, developing them at each stage of her life, with most of them lasting the remainder of her life. She had friendships she developed in East Orange high school from her neighborhood she resided in, to the parents of her children’s friends and through her career of 27 years Rutgers, Livingston Campus, as an administrator in the Undergraduate Graduate Geography Department. Elizabeth’s friendships encompass all aspects of life, and each special to her from phone calls to joint family outings to sharing meals and entertaining travel far and near, helping in times of sadness, she was up for it all. She was known not just for enjoying friendships but also being a good friend to so many.
Elizabeth was known for being a fine cook. She delighted in preparing tasty food to share with her family and friends! Teach herself to cook via her vast cookbook collection, she took great care in documenting These recipes and ingredients and sharing them with family. Every Christmas she could be counted on for her lasagna, meatballs, and sausage. Her Grandchildren received individually made, and wrapped packages of their “Nanny faves” Chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal, raisin, cookies, or garlic toast. Found on the table we won’t forget her carrot cake cookies on anisette cookies or lemon cookies. And to so many, she shared her infamous all around best Biscotti!
Elizabeth was a woman who longed to travel but hated to fly. Despite this fear, she managed to visit Italy, Colorado, and Florida all to commemorate special memories. For the past few years, she spent summer vacations with her family in the Outer Banks. This is where she introduced her famous “candy parties” She enjoyed her slot machines either in Atlantic City, Parx Casinos, or Blackhawk in Colorado. She was a fan of the NJ Devils and NY Mets. Elizabeth enjoyed entertaining in her beautiful inviting living space.
Until she could know more, Elizabeth would express how Grateful she was to have lived a long, full life of wonderful experiences as well as a loving family, many good friends, and all of her compassionate caregivers. She truly embodied the adage of a life well lived.