In Memoriam - Betsy Carol Postow (1945-2007)
With shock and sorrow, the family and friends of Betsy Postow, her colleagues in Philosophy and throughout the UT community, and her long-time partner Dianne Meagher, are in grief over her sudden loss. Professor Postow passed away on the morning of Friday, June 22, due to complications from a blood clot. Those who knew her even slightly will remember her as one of the most brilliant, yet also gentle and generous, and one of the most delightfully excitable, individuals they will ever know. Although she was sixty-one years old, her youthful charm and angelic complexion, seemingly unchanged since she came to UT in 1972 – no doubt fostered by her devoted practice of healthy diet and Buddhist meditation (not to mention circle dancing and performance with the recorder) – will also be long remembered from her manifold participation in campus life.
Professor Postow lived her first years in the Bronx, New York City: across the street, as it happened, from the paternal grandparents of her eventual colleague Sheldon Cohen, now recently retired from UT. She graduated summa cum laude from Harpur College of the State University of New York, Binghamton, in 1966, and received her Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1970 from Yale, where she was recognized early on with the Tew Award for excellence in first year studies.
Professor Postow’s impact on UT was by no means limited, but strikingly characterized by her early and consistent dedication, to the advancement of women in academics and in society at large. Her first public presentation at UT was a talk on “Philosophy and Women,” as part of the interdisciplinary Humanities Program of the Women’s Studies Symposium in 1973; one of her last, just last year, was as a discussion leader on “Feminist Ethics” for the UT Association of Women Faculty. In between, she published an influential anthology of articles on women in sports, including four substantial introductory essays and an Afterword of her own; a major book on one of her life-long areas of research, Reasons for Action; sixty academic papers and reviews, with multiple appearance in the very best journals and several reprintings in anthologies; and 80 professional presentations; this is in addition to her numerous appearances on campus and before local organizations.
She was still working at the very highest level to the end. Her most recently accepted article, “Toward Honest Ethical Pluralism,” was accepted by Philosophical Studies, one of the most prominent philosophical journals, with the observation by one of its readers that the journal would be particularly proud to have published it, as it was a first-rate contribution likely to be widely anthologized. In Fall 2006, she was a Visiting Scholar at the Ethics Institute of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, where she gave three scholarly presentations on rational decision-making (and from which she returned with a particular love for Dutch licorice in its various forms). She returned to Europe in April of this year to deliver a talk on “Care Ethics and Impartial Reasons,” before the Society for Women in Philosophy at Stirling in the UK. Professor Postow was also long active in that Society in this country, beginning with service on the Steering Committee for local meetings in 1976 and 1979 and on the Executive Committee as representative of the Southern region 1976-1977; she was president of the Tennessee Philosophical Association in 1977, member of committees and of the Council of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology 1991-1996, and of committees of the American Philosophical Association 1994-1995.
In addition to her presentations on campus and other activity, Professor Postow’s service to UT included courses contributing to the Women’s Studies Program beginning in 1976; membership on the Faculty Senate, the Senate Executive Committee, and other Senate committees between 1998 and 2001, the Arts and Sciences Advisory Council 1999-2002, the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee 2004-2005; service as Discussion Leader in the Life of the Mind programs, 2003 and 2004; membership – as “one of the best board members we’ve ever had” – on the Board of the UT Press 1986-1990; and – as was also the case for her contribution nationally – membership on numerous evaluation and selection committees. Professor Postow was also a member of the Board of Directors and chair of the ACLU Committee on Student Rights 1976-1977, Vice President of the UTK chapter of the AAUP 2001-2003, and member of its Executive Board 2003-2005. She was acting head of the Philosophy Department in Fall 1993.
To all of her colleagues in Philosophy both here and afar, and to her students at UT, Betsy Postow was also well known for the generous time that she was willing to contribute to individual collaboration, instruction, and commentary, and as fair-minded and reasonable a friend and colleague as one could imagine.
A funeral service was held on Monday, June 25, at the Judean Chapel at Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney, Maryland. A memorial service will be held here in the coming weeks. A Memorial Fund has been established in Betsy Postow’s name.
Memorial Service
Betsy Postow's Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 15th at Tennessee Valley Unitarian-Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, at 2 p.m. Following the service there will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall of the church. The service will be conducted by Reverend Chris Buice, minister of TVUUC.
Betsy Postow Memorial Fund
In memory of our esteemed colleague Betsy Postow the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tennessee has established the Betsy Postow Memorial Fund. Contributions will be used to fund scholarships and fellowships for philosophy students.
The Development Office will notify Betsy's immediate family and the Philosophy Department of individual contribtutions. The Philosophy Department will control the funds.
Tax deductible contributions may be sent to the following address:
Betsy Postow Memorial Fund
University of Tennessee Office of Development
600 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996-0165.