Betty Jean Wall

9 George Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, Nov - April

1358 Lost Angel Road, Boulder, CO 80302, May - October

Betty was born in Tallulah, LA, to immigrant parents from China, and grew up working in her family's grocery store. Betty came to work at the Marine Biological Lab (MBL) as a summer investigator in 1972, and shared a lab with Alan Steinbach and Albert Cass. Albert had encouraged her to come spend the summer in Woods Hole and share a lab with him and Alan. Betty immediately realized that being in Woods Hole felt like being "home". The atmosphere of interesting lectures and discussions with worldwide colleagues, the wonderful library which was open 24 hours a day, added to her enthusiasm for life, which included playing tennis early in the morning, swimming at Stoney Beach and getting into the lab by 8 am, and cooking for friends. After another summer in Woods Hole, Betty decided that after the next summer, she would remain in Woods Hole after the summer. Fortunately for her, she and Jim Oschman had a grant that would allow them to be full time year around investigators at the MBL.

At Northwestern University she and Jim had met some students who raved about "Rolfing", a type of bodywork completely foreign to them. Although the Rolfing work had freed the student of long-time back pain and also lengthened his spine, etc. she remained skeptical. Jim commuted to Boulder to go through the Rolfing process. She did see positive changes in his structure, and declared that if it was meant for her to get Rolfed, then a Rolfer would have to move to Woods Hole. In 1977 a Rolfer, Jason Mixter, moved to Woods Hole and Rolfed a number of people, including Betty.

Also in 1977 Betty met Barbara Gates Burwell, who became a longtime close friend. Barbie introduced her to a wider world of books dealing with the world beyond science. Through many discussions with Barbie, she started expanding her world, which included much more than the physical, the spiritual realm. Her reality included more than our 3 dimensional physical world. In 1979, Betty went to India to the Sonada Monastery where Kalu Rinpoche lived and taught. While there through intuitive writing, Betty received the message to become a Rolfer. So she returned and went to Boulder, CO, became a certified massage therapist and the next year became a practitioner of Rolfing. She also started studying an ancient healing art, Jin Shin Jyutsu, which she has been studying ever since.

In Boulder, she met Rolland Fischer who has become her partner. Since Betty had promised her friends that she would not leave Woods Hole forever, they return for 6 months every year to be in Woods Hole.

There are many wonderful memories of times in Woods Hole over the years. Betty had been a majorette in high school and college, and so in one of the 4th of July parades, when Professor Albert Szent-Gyorgyi led the parade, she was twirling her baton and dancing. The Woods Hole Library is always a friendly environment welcoming everyone, and is one of her favorite places to be. Sig Purwin was the perfect Santa Claus at the Renaissance Fair for years. Theater, music, dance, and other classes at the Community Hall and the old Fire Station allow for people to share their talents.

Since she enjoys cooking, she has cooked for many friends over the years. Betty loves to walk along the beach in the winter, and swim in the ocean when she is in Woods Hole in the summer. Winters in Woods Hole gives Betty a chance to be quiet, reflect, read, and write. Betty loves her life and spending time with friends in Woods Hole, beautiful whatever the season.

In Boulder she started working as a volunteer with hospice patients, giving them relief with massage and Jin Shin Jyutsu. Years ago she envisioned that the whole Cape Cod area would also have hospice care available, and it has. Also she hoped that other types of health practitioners would come to the area and this has happened. Woods Hole is truly a unique community full of creative and kind people.