Betty Naster passed away June 14, 2018, in Boulder. She was born Dec. 7, 1921 in Detroit, Mich., to Hungarian immigrants Louis Roth and Frieda Friedman Roth.
She earned a BA summa cum laude from Columbia University and an MA in western history at DU. Her thesis was on Casimiro Barela.
During her early years in Denver, Mrs. Naster cared for infants at a municipal daycare center and later worked as a substitute Spanish teacher for DPS.
She kept an immaculate house and extended love, informed table conversation, fine Hungarian pastries and culinary delicacies to all her guests. Her home served as a center for musical and civic gatherings.
In addition to providing hospitality to Spanish-only speakers and ongoing aid to a Russian immigrant family, Mrs. Naster was an active volunteer in performing arts management.
She managed the Arapahoe Chamber Orchestra, assisted in the establishment of the Denver Center for Performing Arts and the Pearl Street Temple Center and helped found the Young Artists’ Orchestra.
“She will be sorely missed,” her family said.
Mrs. Naster is survived by her daughters Julie Naster and Leah Altmann; grandchildren Gwyneth Wienecke and Peter Frey; and great-grandson Cal Wienecke.
She was predeceased by her husband Bertram Naster and daughter Janet Naster.
Copyright © 2018 by the Intermountain Jewish News
