Jane Simpson

Jane Simpson created the Elizabeth J. Fowler Endowed Scholarship in memory of her sister, Elizabeth Fowler.

Betsy, as she was known throughout her life, was born in Lake Placid in 1942 and grew up in Watertown. Her father was the editorial page editor at the Watertown Daily Times and her mother was a seventh grade English teacher at Case Junior. Betsy was a 1960 graduate of Immaculate Heart Academy and attended the Watertown Business School. For many years Betsy was a stay-at-home Mom raising three children Lisa, Michelle and Craig who all graduated from General Brown High School. After her husband Carl passed away in 1988, Betsy decided to pursue her dream of being in the legal profession and enrolled at JCC in the newly developed paralegal program from which she received a paralegal associate degree in the early 1990’s. She worked as a paralegal for many years at Hrabchak & Gebo Law Firm until she retired.

Betsy served on the Board of Directors for the Brownville Library and Planned Parenthood of NNY. She was also a paralegal advocate for children within the Jefferson County court system.
Always a bit of a rebel, Betsy was a spirited Democrat with a fierce defense of those less fortunate. She was an avid reader especially of spy, mystery and thriller books; a knowledgeable gardener and an accomplished embroiderer.

She always said that enrolling at JCC was the making of the second half of her life.