Obituary: Elizabeth Ann ‘Betty’ Bosco, 79, of Killingworth

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Bosco died at home on August 11 at the age of 79.

A New Britain native (Gold Street, later East Street), she attended Sacred Heart School (K-9) and graduated from Mary Immaculate Academy (10-12) as class valedictorian (1955). She attended Teachers College of Connecticut (now CCSU) on private scholarships, graduating in 1959 with a major in mathematics education and a minor in chemistry.

Elizabeth taught briefly at Bristol Eastern High School, Morgan High School, and Coginchaug Regional High School, as well as teaching calculus in the evenings for a number of years at Thames Valley State Technical College (now Three Rivers Community College), but spent the bulk of her career at Haddam-Killingworth High School, beginning in 1975, later becoming the coordinator of the math, science, and technology departments there.

Having started her teaching career the summer after fourth grade with a small blackboard and some neighborhood kids, she enjoyed teaching until she retired in 1998. Even after retirement, she identified herself not simply as retired, but as a retired teacher.

She moved to Killingworth in 1962, and lived in the same house since that time. She was involved in various town activities, including as president of the Killingworth Nursery School Association in the 1960s and then around the turn of the century as co-chair of both the math and science district wide curriculum committees. Elizabeth loved to travel, whether toting three kids cross-country in 1979, or later going to the Caribbean, Europe, or the Far East with a friend.

Betty was predeceased by her father (Stefan J. Rzonca, 1943), her mother (Mary V. (Kowalczyk), 1982), and her step-father (George E. Burkavage, 1997), as well as her dog (Molly, 2008). She is survived by her three sons, Anthony (Colchester), Stephen (Colorado), and Gregory (Killingworth), and by her brother Chester (Carol Twedt) Rzonca (Iowa).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Killingworth Library. No public services will be held.