Betsey Goodwin ‘62

Alumni Voices

Betsey Goodwin ‘62

Beaver Reflections:
I graduated from Beaver in 1962 and had a wonderful experience although very varied. I remember that no matter the year, I always had amazing teachers. Learning crucial life lessons at Beaver taught me how to work with a variety of people in life. This ultimately enabled me to be able to work in countries all over the world and feel at ease while doing so. Looking back, my classroom experience was always stimulating. My favorite subjects were history and geometry which still impact my life to this day. My work has allowed me to enjoy my passions. I have lectured from Japan to Europe and across the U.S. on the sociology and history of early New England quilts and textiles. Everything I do is historical. Geometry and quilts definitely tie in together!

What is #happeningnow in your life:
After graduating from Beaver and obtaining a four-year degree I taught English in the Westwood school system. I was married and started a family early in life. After my kids were born, my teaching career ended. I lived in Colorado for ten years where I started Rocky Mountain Quilts, my antique quilt company, and textile restoration business. This is when Beaver came into play because I knew the techniques that came with the restoration side of my business. I have now amassed the largest collection of vintage fabric from 1780-1950. I am the only person in the country and possibly the world, who restores antique quilts only using original same-day fabric. This is one of the reasons why I have not retired. There is no one else to do this type of restoration and I still find this work so emotionally rewarding. I used to travel all around the world selling at shows and lecturing, but nowadays I try to stay local. Currently, I am working on the biggest project I have ever done. Right now I’m living in Portsmouth on a boat; we bought a great big boat you can literally live on instead of a condo.

“People keep saying to me, ‘You can’t retire. Who’s going to restore our quilts?’ And I keep getting family heirlooms with incredible stories.”
– Betsey Goodwin ‘62

Advice to Beaver students:
Appreciate your education and live in the moment. You should realize the opportunity to have this amazing education and be grateful for it. Your education is not just about learning but also about developing emotionally and having faith in yourself.

Beaver Country Day School admits qualified students of any race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, handicap status, national origin or ethnicity to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, handicap status, national origin or ethinicity in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, athletic or other school-administered programs or policies.