Centenarian ‘techno-savvy’ Betty

JUNE SIEGEL

PHOTOGRAPH: JOHN GOOTT

 Pictured :Sue Goott (daughter-in-law); birthday girl Betty Goott; June Siegel (daughter); Gary Plein (grandchild).

Betty lost her mother to cancer at an early age. She spent most of her childhood at Maris Stella Boarding School in Durban with her two sisters, Ruth Louis – who passed away at age 87 – and Peggy Benjamin Samuelson who turned 96 on June 10 and is living in Birmingham, Alabama close to her children.

Betty met her husband, the late Henry Goott, in Johannesburg. They married in 1936 and spent 65 years together until he passed away in 2001 at age 89. The couple had three children – Lyn who lives in Johannesburg, June in Los Angeles, and John in Houston.

She has 11 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren who are spread across four continents.   

Betty has always lived a very active life and ascribes her longevity to the consistent and unwavering love and attention from her large doting family.

“Each and every one!” says Betty. “They could not do more for me. Their love and attention is what has kept me going. At age 88, my grandson David, sent me a computer as a birthday gift.

“Don’t be silly,” I said. “I wouldn’t know what to do with it! But he had confidence in me.”

In no time, and with her good typing skills, Betty had managed to master it. Now, with the addition of an iPad as well, she is able to e-mail, Skype and keep in close touch with her children all around the world. 

She amazed the Telkom technician who marvelled: “I think Betty is the oldest person in South Africa to get high speed Internet!” In addition, her voice over Internet phone allows her to call anywhere in America, and she does so on a daily basis. “It’s a lot of fun!” she comments.

Betty’s hobbies include playing bridge four times a week. (She is still a mean player). An accomplished tennis and bowls player in her day, Betty loves watching sport, including rugby, cricket and tennis, enjoys reading the newspaper every day and can hold her own on most any topic of conversation. 

Though she watches TV occasionally, she spends a lot of time listening to talk radio, where she is known to have been motivated strongly enough to call in to express her views.

Loved and respected by her family and her many friends, she will celebrate her birthday in Johannesburg. The following day, together with 45 of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren (of whom 36 are from overseas) she will travel to one of her favourite resorts, Hunters Rest in the Magaliesberg mountains, where she and her family have spent many vacations in the past, including her 95^th birthday in 2009.