Elizabeth O’Hear of Sag Harbor died on April 6 at Southampton Hospital, in the intensive care unit where she had worked for many years. She was 82.
Known as “Betty,” she was born in Brooklyn to Joseph and Agnes Retallack on October 16, 1932. She graduated from Lynbrook High School and earned her nursing degree from the Southampton Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She and her classmates, Barbara, Carolyn, Cynthia and “the other Betty,” had a special friendship and countless laughs that endured all of these 65 years, survivors said. On January 23, 1954, she married James “Jim” O’Hear and settled in Sag Harbor.
Ms. O’Hear possessed a true wild, Irish wit and absolutely loved to have a good time, survivors said. She loved the outdoors and animals, especially cats, and thoroughly enjoyed the years that she was a Girl Scout leader to many of the girls in Sag Harbor. She and her husband enjoyed their yearly trips to Maine, going to as many baseball games as possible and trips to the theater and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. In addition, she was extremely artistic and created beautiful watercolor landscapes.
Predeceased by her husband, Ms. O’Hear fittingly died on the first day of baseball season, a day the couple celebrated enthusiastically for 60 years. She is survived by a daughter, Patrice Robinson and husband Martin of Hampton Bays.
A memorial service is being planned for this summer.
Memorial donations may be made to the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, www.southamptonanimalshelter.com.
on Apr 13, 2015