Elizabeth Thune - Obituary

lizabeth Swaine Thune “Betsy”, 76, a 6-year resident of Annapolis and formerly of Fairfax, VA, died of pneumonia on July 16, 2011 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She was born on December 23, 1934 in Astoria, NY and graduated from Manhasset High School in 1952. Betsy received a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of William and Mary in 1956 where she was also President of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She went on to earn a Master’s degree and in 1978 a PhD in Social Statistics from the University of Maryland. Among her career highlights, Betsy was on the faculty at the University of Maryland where she taught Research Methods and Statistics. She served as a Research Social Scientist at the National Institutes of Mental Health where she directed research projects and authored papers that have been published in professional journals. She also co-founded the Maryland Survey Research Center. Betsy ended her career at the Xerox Corporation where she was the manager of the Evaluation and Research Division for 19 years until her retirement in the late 1990s. Betsy was a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Fairfax, VA and St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Annapolis. An avid snow skier, Betsy was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her 30-year membership on the National Ski Patrol in Canaan Valley, WV, including 2 years as Patrol Director. She was also a NASTAR >55 Gold Medalist. Betsy enjoyed tennis and was a past winner of the Fairfax City Doubles Tournament. In 2010, Betsy co-authored the YOLO Poetry Book with her granddaughter Crystal. Other interests included running, sailing, beachcombing, hiking, camping, music, arts, reading and playing bridge. Betsy was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, John Renwick Thune, who died in 2006 and a brother, James Swaine. She is survived by two sons, Lars Thune of Cuyahoga Falls, OH and Eric Thune of Naples, FL, one daughter, Alison Cunard of Edgewater, and one brother William Swaine of Charlottesville, VA. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Larson Thune of Washington, DC; Jason Thune of McLean, VA; Crystal Thune of Orlando, FL; Nolan and Kyle Thune of Naples, FL; Ryan, Samantha and Erica Thune of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; and Sam, Kari and Holly Cunard of Edgewater. A memorial service will be held at 1 PM on Wednesday, July 20, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 1120 Spa Road, Annapolis. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org or the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at www.pdf.org. An online guestbook is available for your convenience at: www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.