Betty Krainis

09/19/2002

Betty Krainis, 79, of 41 West Plain Road died Thursday at home. She was the principal founder in 1971 of the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, the first Waldorf school in Western Massachusetts. Based on the teachings of Austrian philosopher and educator Rudolf Steiner, it began its first year as the Pumpkin Hollow School in a renovated barn on Mrs. Krainis' property, offering only kindergarten. She spent nearly 20 years at the private, independent school as it expanded, serving as its kindergarten teacher and as a member of its board and council of teachers. After her retirement in 1988, she served as an adviser for it and several other Waldorf schools. Born in New York City on April 16, 1923, she was the daughter of Robert and Zip Falk Szold. She was a graduate of Bryn Mawr (Pa.) College, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree. She moved to Great Barrington from New York in 1967, after spending summers here for several years. She served during World War II in the Volunteer Land Corps. She was an active volunteer for HospiceCare in the Berkshires and the Berkshire Literacy Network, and enjoyed gardening. An avid pingpong player, she represented Massachusetts in the 1991 Senior Olympics table tennis national competition. A book of poetry she wrote, "A Baseball Bat and a Book of Poetry," will be published soon by a Canadian publisher. She married her first husband, pianist and conductor Mort Lindsey, formerly Mort Lippman, in 1944. They later divorced. Her husband, Bernard Krainis, a classical recorder player and a founder of the New York Pro Musica and Aston Magna, whom she married in 1957, died in 2000. She leaves two sons, Dr. David Lippman of Great Barrington and John Krainis of Freeport, Maine; two daughters, Deborah Morris of Great Barrington and Judith Grant of Chapel Hill, N.C., and nine grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Expressions of sympathy in Betty's memory may be made to the Betty Krainis Endowment Fund at the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, HospiceCare in the Berkshires, the Berkshire Literacy Network, or Riverwalk of GBLC, in care of BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. A memorial service will be held Oct. 13 at 4 at the Steiner School. The family will be at home to receive visitors at 41 West Plain Road, Great Barrington, on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 2 to 4. Survivors include two daughters-in-law, Honey Sharp Lippman and Nora Nale Krainis; a son-in-law, Francis Morris; and nine grandchildren, Alexandra, Nadia and Daniel Lippman, Melisse and Rowan Morris, and Angela, Justin, Joshua, and Isaac Krainis.

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