Betsy Deane Sherman

Betsy Deane Sherman, a passionate advocate for good government, passed away in Washington DC on September 27, 2023. A dedicated professional who was generous to all, Betsy collected lifelong friends wherever she went.

Born in Albany, NY in 1946, Betsy moved with her parents to New Haven CT, while her father, John Foord Sherman completed his PhD at Yale, and then to Kensington, MD in 1953 when John was recruited to the National Institutes of Health. On graduating from Walter Johnson High School in 1964, Betsy received a scholarship to study at Vassar College, graduating in 1968. She followed this with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard in 1970.

Betsy taught French at Newport Junior High School in Montgomery County for three years before an interest in working for more open and transparent government saw her accepting a post as a staff member at the recently-founded citizens’ advocacy group, Common Cause, then under the leadership of John Gardner. She served in several roles, ultimately as Issues Coordinator, presenting Common Cause positions to state legislators and national organizations.

Betsy’s skills and knowledge of both local and national issues led her to join the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in 1978, where she served as Director of Member Services and secretariat to the ICMA Executive Board. Exceptionally well-organized, Betsy had a gift for writing or rewriting communications, ensuring that they were clear, had the right context and were historically accurate. Retiring in 2016, Betsy is held in high esteem and still missed by those who worked with her.

Always attentive to people, Betsy made a difference to many people’s lives, whether helping an ICMA member, her family or a friend. She was a mentor to many young professionals, and a go-to counselor for many city and county managers.

Betsy was a committed resident of her Van Ness North Cooperative and a kind and thoughtful neighbour. She served as Secretary of the Board of Directors from 2001-2002, and President of the Board from 2002-2006, leading a major refurbishment of the building. Her remarkable organizational skills came to the fore while President, as she was still working full-time and also supporting her parents during her mother’s final illness.

Music always played an important role in Betsy’s life. A talented violinist and singer, she was a long-standing member of the Little Singers of Montgomery County, singing national anthems and folk songs in the original languages. The group made many appearances at embassies, on TV and at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Betsy also took lead roles in musicals at Walter Johnson High School and later performed with the renowned “Night Owls” a capella group at Vassar College. More recently she sang in the choir of St Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.

An English major in college, Betsy was an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction and member of a local book club for 50 years. She enjoyed the monthly meetings and stimulating discussions about a variety of books and gained many friends through the years of this mutual interest.

A resident of Washington DC for over 50 years, she was a keen supporter of statehood for DC. Betsy’s car always sported the ‘No Taxation Without Representation’ licence plate. As a volunteer, she worked on the campaign for DC’s first (non-voting) congressman Walter Fauntroy in 1970.

Betsy was a devoted daughter to her late parents John Foord and Deane Murray Sherman, elder sister to Mary Ann, and aunt to her two nephews. After Mary Ann married and moved to the UK, Betsy made frequent trips “across the pond” to enjoy holidays and family celebrations there. She always enjoyed national and international travel, whether on ICMA business, traveling with a friend or visiting family. Betsy is survived by Mary Ann and brother-in-law Jonathan Small, of Liverpool UK, and her nephews and their wives, Michael and Annalyse, and Edward and Rebecca Small.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request that donations be made to charities that Betsy supported: Levine School of Music, ICMA Future of Professional Management Fund, CARE, Vassar College -1968 Endowed Scholarship Fund and Bread for the City.

A memorial service to celebrate Betsy’s life will be held in the spring of 2024.

Levine School of Music - https://www.levinemusic.org/support/donate/

ICMA Future of Professional Management Fund - https://icma.org/page/donate-icma-future-professional-management-fund

CARE - https://www.care.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-by-phone-mail-or-electronic-funds-transfer/

Vassar College - 1968 Endowed Scholarship Fund https://connect.vassar.edu/s/1654/20/giving/landing.aspx?sid=1654&gid=2&pgid=6153

Bread for the City - https://breadforthecity.org/