Sad News: Betty Oktay

May 14, 2025

Dear all,

I am writing with the sad news of Betty Oktay’s death on Saturday, May 10th. She died peacefully at home with her son, Feza. Betty worked for 40 years to develop the library’s collection of monographs and periodicals. As one colleague described, Betty’s professionalism was rooted in her embodiment of the values of intellectual curiosity and inquiry that the library made possible. Arriving at Vassar in 1966, Betty retired in 2006 as the Head of Acquisitions. Over the years, Betty was an unfailing supporter and advisor to the faculty to ensure that the collection met the needs of students and supported faculty research. She was meticulous in the way she managed Vassar’s very substantial and complex book and serials budgets, with all the intricate system of accounts and endowments this entailed. As time went on, Betty shouldered the growing responsibility for collection oversight and adapted to changes in the process of acquisition management with intelligence and grace.

Anyone who worked with her learned quickly that Betty was dedicated to the idea of the library as the center of Vassar’s mission to educate students and stimulate their curiosity. She understood and advocated for a collection that helped to define both the breadth and depth of a liberal arts collection. Her love of books extended beyond her care for the library to her own reading. She was one of the founders of the Matthew Vassar Book Club, where readers from the Vassar community and beyond have met for decades every month to discuss a book, often with the guidance of a Vassar faculty member. Betty’s commitment to reading as a way to enrich one’s humanity was evident in her loyalty to this group.

In addition to her professionalism and dedication, Betty was, in the words of one of her many colleagues, “a kind, caring, friendly, intelligent, generous, and loving person.” Her laughter and her sense of adventure were infectious. Our sympathy goes to her family, her colleagues, and her many friends.

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar