Name/Title
Always Ready for Adventure by Betty KarplusDescription
Elizabeth "Betty" Frasier Karplus' memoir, Always Ready for Adventure, reflects the spirit of a woman who never stopped exploring, learning, and sharing. Betty was a long-time Orinda resident and tireless educator and volunteer.Context
Betty Karplus (1925–2021)
Betty Karplus came to Orinda in the mid-1950s when her husband, Robert, joined the UC Berkeley physics faculty. She became a beloved member of the community, teaching science at Campolindo High School and serving two terms on the Orinda Union School District board. Named Orinda Citizen of the Year in 1982, she was a tireless advocate for students with disabilities.
Her remarkable career extended well beyond Orinda — she later led a teacher training program at Mills College, served in the Peace Corps in Jamaica, and taught English in China. In 2019, she was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.