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Almanac co-founder Betty Fry dies

by Dave Boyce

Elizabeth "Betty" Fry, a longtime resident of Portola Valley and a co-founder of The Almanac, died of cardiac failure on Dec. 30 at her home in Nevada City, California, relatives said. She was 85.

Ms. Fry was the publisher of The Almanac from its founding in 1965 — put together in a couple of local homes and garages, including hers — until 1984, when the family moved to Nevada City.

Founding the paper, then known as the Country Almanac, with her were Hedy Boissevain, the first managing editor, and Jean Heflin, who consulted on the business structure of the paper. The Almanac's founding was more or less coincident with the incorporation of Portola Valley in 1964, said Ms. Fry's husband, Dr. Bill Fry.

Ms. Fry had a degree in business from a private college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Fry said. The family lived in Portola Valley from 1958 until the move to Northern California.

For recreation, Ms. Fry played tennis and was an active member of Music in the Mountains, a program for bringing music to the Nevada City community, Dr. Fry said. She was a past president of the Nevada County Land Trust, he said.

In addition to her husband, Ms. Fry is survived by her sons, Stephen of Nevada City and Peter of Portland, Oregon; daughter Susan Van Rheenen of Orinda; and six grandchildren.

Gifts in Ms. Fry's memory can be made to the Nevada County Land Trust at 175 Joerschke Drive, #R Grass Valley, CA 95945.

Go to nevadacountylandtrust.org for more information, or call 530-272-5994.