Elizabeth Joseph Chesky

Elizabeth Balter, 87, died October 2nd at her residence 2751 NE 183rd Street (Imperial Club), Aventura FL.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut on December 18, 1925, Elizabeth (Betty) was the daughter of the late Samuel and Freda Joseph. She graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford in 1943 and entered Boston University graduating in 1947 with a baccalaureate degree in business administration.

While at Boston University, she met the late Harold Chesky and married him in 1944. A few years later they moved to Lynn, Masachusetts where Betty began her long career in the teaching profession. She first was a substitute teacher in Lynn, received her teachers certification in English and mathematics from the New Britain College of Connecticut, and next taught at Canton High School (Connecticut) from 1953-1956.

In 1956, Betty, now pregnant with her second child, and her husband moved to Miami Beach, Florida. In 1962, she started teaching at Nautilus Junior High School in Miami Beach where she remained for three decades. She also continued her education, receiving a Master’s degree in Education in 1962 from the University of Hartford. In 1966, she remarried the late David Balter in 1966.

Betty was a most popular, revered and honored teacher at Nautilus receiving the Teacher of the Year Award in 1975. Devoted to teaching, even after her retirement in 1991, she continued working until 2008 as a substitute teacher at DASH, one of the renowned magnet high schools in Miami-Dade County, She also taught summer school at Miami Beach High School many years and was dedicated to numerous school and community clubs. Importantly, Betty’s face always lit up with a smile as she spoke about how much she enjoyed her life as a teacher. For decades, whenever she was out doing everyday errands, numerous peers greeted her as one of their dearest friends and former students greeted Mrs. Balter as their “wonderful English teacher!” Betty’s motto (modified from Albert Einstein) will live on in all of our hearts: “Live for today, dream for tomorrow, and learn from yesterday!”

She was especially proud of her four children who survive her. These are Dr. Jeffrey Chesky (wife Annette) of Springfield IL; David Chesky (wife Patricia) of New York, Norman Chesky (partner Susanne Caudle) of New York; and her special needs daughter Doralee Chesky of Miami Shores who has overcome myriad health obstacles to enjoy a fulfilling life. Betty is also survived by three grandchildren, Barry Chesky of Cockeysville, MD, Lucca Chesky of New York and Paloma Chesky of New York.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, and two older brothers, Marvin and Jack Joseph.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday, October 6, 2013 at Riverside-Gordon at Mt. Nebo, 5900 SW 77th Avenue, Miami at 12, NOON

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Williams Syndrome Foundation (www.williams-syndrome.org)