Elizabeth "Betsy" (Waite) Prine

 Elizabeth “Betsy” Waite Prine, age 82, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania died on September 6, 2023. Betsy Prine was born December 14, 1940, in Warren, PA. She was the first of two cherished daughters of James A. Waite and Elizabeth Douglass Waite, both life long educators and members of the Presbyterian Church community. She spent her childhood, and most of her life in the Pittsburgh area. Along with her sister Nancy, Betsy enjoyed a close family environment which included Sunday picnics and holiday gatherings on the Douglass family farm with a circle of aunts, uncles and cousins. Her family believed in the value of education, as well as a good sense of humor and time spent together. These values were demonstrated in Betsy’s early 20’s when on a single weekend the family joyfully celebrated her sister’s high school graduation, Betsy’s graduation from Chatham University and their mother’s graduation from Duquesne University. 

Betsy received a Fulbright Scholarship to attend a summer program in Costa Rica. She went on to get her Masters Degree at the University of Kansas. She continued the family value of education by dedicating herself to a 20-year teaching career in the Baldwin Whitehall School District, teaching Spanish to children in 6th - 12th grade.

In the summer of 1983 Betsy was married to Charles W. Prine Jr., with whom she enjoyed thirty years of marriage before his death in 2014. They lived in the Pittsburgh area and eventually became snowbirds enjoying many winters on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia. Betsy and Chuck shared interests including birding trips that took them to places like Alaska, Canada, and Arizona, where they built on their extensive life lists. They also shared interests in music, art, and antiques.

Betsy loved to travel and had various wonderful adventures with her husband, her sister and brother-in-law, and her children and grandchildren within the U.S., to South America and Europe. Betsy’s other passions included extensive genealogy research, and a beautiful collection of antiques and modern glassworks. Betsy was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a lifelong Presbyterian and belonged most recently to the Bower Hill Community Church. Her community involvement included supporting education through the Neighborhood Academy and Chatham University where she has contributed to student scholarship and the Rachel Carson Environmental Lecture Series

Betsy cherished being a grandmother. She looked forward to holidays and vacations with her grandchildren and eventually her great grandchildren. She would gather the entire family together in the summer where the children brought out her playful side and she enjoyed baking desserts for and with the children. She was a beloved grandmother and will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her sister, Nancy Waite-Kahn and her husband Dr. Sherman Kahn of Davidson, North Carolina, her children Dr. Linda Prine of New York City,  Janet Rivera and husband Benny Rivera of Gypsum Colorado, Karen Prine of Berryville, Virginia, Barbara Prine and her husband Paul Fleckenstein of Burlington, Vermont, and Alison Prine and her wife Kelley Goulette of Burlington, Vermont as well as her grandchildren, Daniel Rivera and wife Namishay, Jacob Rivera and wife Katie, Autumn Rivera, Nathan Ito-Prine and wifeSonoka, Sam Smith, Henry Prine and fiancee Caroline, and Mabel Prine, and her 9 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Charles Wilson Prine Jr. and her son, Roger Prine of Charlottesville Virginia. 

A memorial service will be held at Bower Hill Community Church on Saturday, October 14th at 2pm and officiated by Rev. Dr. Brian Snyder. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Chatham University for the Elizabeth Waite Prine ‘61 Scholarship Fund, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232and The Neighborhood Academy, 709 North Aiken Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

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