Betsy Jo Angebranndt's Obituary
Betsy Jo (White) Angebranndt of Annapolis, MD died at the age of 86 on February 25, 2018. She was born in Plainfield, NJ July 18, 1931 the oldest child of Charles Drummond White and Iva Bertha (Hadley) White. Betsy graduated in 1949 from Plainfield High School and received a B.S.in Music Education from Trenton State College (now the College of NJ) in 1953. The day after graduation she married Albert Joseph Angebranndt. While Albert was finishing his service in the Navy, Betsy taught in the Edison NJ Township school system as well as pursuing her Masters in Music Education from Rutgers University, which she received in 1958. They relocated to Utica NY, where she continued her teaching career.
She became a stay at home mom following the birth of her three daughters, Susan, Lynn and Karen. In 1969 Betsy commenced teaching private piano lessons, continuing until 2013. She belonged to the Music Teachers Association of Bowie serving as its president twice, while being named Teacher of the Year in 1986. She also taught at three Bowie, MD nursery schools from 1969 to 1987. In 1966 she started directing the choir at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Annapolis, being ordained its Minister of Music in 2004, retiring in 2011.
Betsy began composing music in the early 1960’s. As part of the Storybook Players of Bowie, MD she wrote The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Bremmantown Musicans, Rumpelstiltskin, Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel. For the bicentennial to celebrate Maryland history she penned Maryland : A Voice for Freedom. Through the years she wrote piano repertoire including Youth Concerti for piano and string quartet, choral music and art songs setting the words of Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, e.e. Cummings and others. She was named Composer of the Year in 2000 by the Maryland State Music Teachers. As a member of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network she contributed to the new hymnal Singing the Living Tradition. She helped edit the choral response book. She was honored by UUMN in 2013 as part of their Volunteer Hall of Fame.
She moved from Bowie to Ginger Cove in Annapolis in 2007. She directed the Ginger Cove chorus from 2007 to 2016. She continued to stay busy joining the monthly reader’s group and the poetry club.
Betsy was predeceased by her husband of nearly 40 years, Albert and her younger brother Charles D. White. She is survived her daughters Susan Angebranndt (Harold White) of Santa Fe, NM, Lynn Angebranndt of Sylmar, CA and Karen Koch (Paul Koch) of Annapolis, MD.
A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday April 14 at 1:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis 333 DuBois Road Annapolis, MD 21401. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Betsy Jo Angebranndt Memorial Music Fund c/o UUCA 333 Dubois Road Annapolis, MD 21401.
What’s your fondest memory of Betsy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Betsy?
Share a story where Betsy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Betsy you’ll never forget.
How did Betsy make you smile?